, 1919-07-31

finally dropping down the Sierra Nevada to Sac
ramento, Cal, and then to San Francisco.
This train consists of go motor-vehicles 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-
ton of the practicability of long-distance motor
post and commercial transportation and the need
for judicious expenditure of federal governmental
appropriations in providing the necessary high
ways.
So much for the Lincoln highway as n means
of transportation-a transcontinental 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 Emancipator. 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
2.5OO,OOO members It has a state federation In
II III INC CbAOhs tAaAN Ia. Jit u
chairman of the conservation department Of the
general federation, has secured a comprehensive
planting plan for the way. This plan has been
worked out by Jens Jensen. a noted landscape
engineer of Chicago. In general 1t provides for
the planting 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 100 miles of Illinois. These prints
give all necessary details-kinds of trees, shrubs
and flowers for each locality; suggestions for
grouping each. The clubs of the several states
through which the way passes will see to 1t that
the planting is done. Many clubs In other states
will plant memorial miles on the way and in
addition carry out the same plan in application
70 Lincoln way feeders in their own states.
Features of this roadside planting of the Lin
coin way by the general federation are memorial
trees In honor of Individual heroes; groves, foun-
tains. camping places along the road; fruit and
mt trees for the birds and a bird sanctuary from
ocean to ocean.
For ten years America has been spending from
soon 600 900 to $500, 0 5000 a year for highway
construction and national
nlan-without relation to the broad needs Of the
country as a whole and with little coordination
90 erfort between states. After spending over
60 oOo o 5000 in n decade. we are, broadly speak
inc ms far from a proper connecting system of
rod,otIng highways in the United States as ever.
THE latest government figures show a total
biobwav mileage In the United States of 2.457-
aa4 and of this total. even after the tremendous
expenditures noted, but - per cent, or some 206.-
600 miles. have received any attention whatever
and these improvements are scattered In 4S states,
in a loose and utterly ineffective way, over va
rious sections of our entire 100000 miles.