The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-08-01

finally dropping down the Sierra Nevada to Sac
ramento, Cal. and then to San Francisco.
This train consists of 60 motor-venlcles of the
types employed by the motor transport corps In
the conduct of the winning of the war. In addition,
accompanying this train are several other
branches of the United States army service, in
Guiding representatives of the engineer corps,
with antiaircraft defense trucks and searchlights,
and certain specially detailed observers who will
make an intensive study and report to the war
department on road conditions.
The trip is being made for both military and
educational purposes, including: An extended
performance test of the several standardized
types Of motorized army equipment used for
transportation Of troops and cargo and for other
special military purposes; the war departments
contribution to good roads movement; demonstra-.
tion Of the practicability of long-distance motor
post and commercial transportation and the need
for malicious expenditure Of federal governmental
appropriations in providing the necessary high
ways.
So much for the Lincoln highway as a means
of transportatiOn-a transcontinenta road link
ing the United States by states. Consider now
the Lincoln way as a beauty spot-and a me-
mortal. not only to the Great Emancipation, but to
the heroes who followed his example and won
the freedom Of the world in the great war.
The roadside planting of the Lincoln way is in
CHARGE of the General Federation Of WOmen's
Clubs. This organization has a membership Of
. 5OO 600 members 1t has a state federation in
every state In the Union. Mary x. Sherman,
chairman Of the conservation department Of the
general federation, has secured a comprehensive
nlanting plan for the way. This plan has been
worked out by Jens Jensen, a noted landscape
engineer of Chicago. In general 1t provides for
tho nlonting Of trees, shrubs and flowers indigo
nous to the locality. For example, blue prints
have been made for the planting of the way
through the $50 miles Of Illinois. These prints
Give all necessary details-kinds Of trees, shrubs
and flowers for each locality: suggestions for
oroun,np each. The clubs of the several states
throrgb which the way passes will see to it that
tho Wanting is done. Many clubs in other states
will nlont memorial miles on the way and IN
addition carry out the same plan in application
20 lincoln way feeders in their own states.
FEATURES Of this roadside planting of the Lin
ooIn wey by the general federation are memorial
troos IN honor of individual heroes; groves, foun-
coins camping places along the, road; fruit and
umt trees for the birds and a bird sanctuary from
ocean to ocean.
Cor ten years America has been spending from
COCO 600 1000 to S300,O00,0O0 a year for highway
construction and aintenance-withOu national
r~,on-without relation to the broad needs Of the
la,ntrv nc n whole and with little coordination
% effort between states. After spending over
co OOO 600. 600 in a decade, we are, broadly speak
49, a 6 far from q proper connecting system of
INITIATING highways in the United States as ever.
The latest government figures show a total
hiobvaS mileage in the United States Of 2,457,-
a34 and of this total. even after the tremendous
expenditures noted, but II per cent, or some $685.
600 miles. have received any attention whatever
ana these improvements are scattered In 48 states,
IN q loose and utterl~ reflective way, over va.
rious sections of our cutire 100000 miles.