Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-09
CONVOY REPORT URGES
HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT
War Department Submits Results
OF Transcontincntal Tour
TO Congress-.
LINCOLN HIGHWAY CONCEIVED
Granite Monument Mt Capital,
to DO Unveiled by President.
Marks Beginning Of System OF
National Highways.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.

Especial to The Times Dispatch
WASHINGTON. d. C.. May Son
July :. 1919. the Federal government
designated point in the vicinity of
the White House in Washington. d.
G.. rs the beginning point OF n sys-
ten of national highways and marked
1t with monument called the Zero
Milestone" y plaster cast was in
stalled to be replaced in due season
with a permanent granite monument,
the design Of which has been pre-
pared hy the Fine Arts Commission,
of Washington. The dedication OF this
monument VIII be u national occasion.
with an address by the President OF
the United States.
The occasion on which the plaster
cast was unveiled was the starting of
the transconiinental army motor
way from Washington 10 San Fran
cisco. The date was July Z, 1919.
The monument was the gift of +. W.
Hockaday. president of the National
Highway Marking Association.
The presentation was made by DR..
= NJ. Johnson, who was official
spokesman of tho convoy accompany
ing the train and making good roads
speeches 10 Chambers of Commerce
and the great throngs of people which
gathered 10 see the expedition. on
behalf OF the President, Secretary Of
war Newton D. Baker accepted the
marking the start OF the historic cN
petition OF two companies of the
. army across the continent. The cere-
monies were witnessed by "a distin-
guished gathering of high officials Of
: Inc Federal and State governments
and OF the various organizations.
wreaths Are PrcScnted.>
Suspended from the monument and
adjoining the sides eyre four ocauti-
full wreaths. each with a star to rep
resent the four SECTIONS n IN
try. The Hon. julius Kahn, Con-
gresham from California, chairman
OF the House Committee on Military
Affairs. gave the wreath marked
West" to Licutcnant-Colon c. w
Mcclure. commander of the eypcdi-
ton. to present 10 the Governor of
California, and Secretary Baker sent
the wreath marked East" by Lieu
tenant-Colonel Mcclure to present TO
the Mayor o! San Francisco. Colonel
Mcclure succeeded in conducting the
convoy. about three. miles long. TO
Ere S from washin 5eaons T The
wreath marked North" was present.
wreath was presented to DR. Johnson,
who was the originator OF .hc Zero
Milestone idea.
The Washington milestone is To-
the United States meridian. which.
passing from the North TO the South
Pole. forms 4 part of the Plan of
Washington, being the nNial line OF
sixteenth Street, Lafayette Square.
the White House, the Milestone and
the Eclipse.
Truck Factor In New Ern.
Secretary Baker in his address said
that the motor truck on the modern
highway enabled the United States to
take decisive part in the quick end
ing Of the war and would bc as i'm
portant II factor in the era on which
we were now entering as the railway
had been since the invention of the
locomotive.
on the frs, Sunday out from
Washington the convoy. consisting of
800 men. ms entertained by Mr.. and
Mrs. II. s F!rcstonc at their summer
caSion being one OF far-reachinE sig
nihcancc for highway improvements
The Importance OF through motor
truck routes was stressed and an inn
pctuS was given to the ship-by-truck
movement that greatly strengthened
the bureau. finally bringing into its
service the publicity man cf the army
convey. Lieutenant William L. poron.
and resulting N the plan FOR the oh
ScrEaAcc OF the Ship-by- Truck Week
as national event.
Lincoln Highway Conceived.
The army expedition across the
continent Last summer resulted in
inc establishment II the Lincoln
highway as national motor-truck
road.
In report summarizing the con-
ciusions reached as a result of the
convoy the War Department has s,rb
mlttcd results O! its findings tn the
Highways Commiffne IF l.opDr..v