The Washington herald., 1922-06-25
COMMISSIONERS OF
new ENGLAND PLAN.
HIGHWAY MARKERS
Prevailing Confusion of
Road Marks Renders
Move Necessary.

At a conference in Boston a few
days ago, official action was taken
that promises to put an end to the
confusion that prevails in the con-
flicting systems of highway marks
now in use. Highway commits
sioners of all the New England
States decided on a new plan of
uniform markers. according to a
simple system that is capable of
extension througout the country.
1t was at a meeting of the New
England Hotel Mems Association
that the subject was first brought
up, and Arthur L. Race. the presi-
dent, suggested that there must be
some method of marking the high
ways that could be used throughout
the United States. much simpler
than any employed at present. The
Road Commissioners OF New Eng
land. accordingly. were asked to at
tend the meeting. which was held
in Commissioner Coles office at the
Highway Department in the State
House. Boston.
o. NJ Wells. of the Automobile
Club of America, had been asked
to submit a new plan that would
embody the results OF his fifteen
years experience. This plan pre-
viously had received the inspection
approval of the club officers, and
after the two days meeting, was
unanimously adopted by the entire
body.
Some Details of the New Plan.
The United States will be divided
into zones. Each route will receive
a number. For instance, No. l will
start at Miami, Fla, and follow the
Atlantic coast all the way to Calais.
Maine, and into Canada. IL desired
by the authorities of the Marine
Provinces. ....
From New York No. 1 follows the
Postrcad Stamford, Bridgeport.
New Haven. New London. Provi-
dence, Boston, Newburyport, Ports
mouth, Portland and along the
coast to Bangor. Odd-number
routes will run east and west as
near as possible; the even numbers
north and south.
Each state highway department
will mark the poles with designated
number from one State line to the
other. New England has adopted
the square as the symbol to be used
in the New England zone; the
marking will read: IN. Y" with a
large 81" underneath from New
York to the Connecticut line. Or
crossing the line into Connecticut
the markers will carry Conn. T.;
then Rhode Island, "R. 1. u: In
Massachusetts. Mass. T.; in New
IN. H. l." and in Maine.
Me. L.
Inside Trunk Line.
Route No. 4. as another example.
will be the inside trunk line to the
Bershires through Pawling. Lake
vile, Great harrington and Pitts
field. continuing north through
Williamstown, Manchester and
Rhode Island to Burlington, then on
to the Canadian line and possibly
to Montreal. Route No. will start
at New Haven and go through the
center of Connecticut to Hartford,
then along the Connecticut River to
Springfield and continue north on
the east side of the river through
Northampton. Greenfield, Brattle-
boro, White River Junction. st.
Johnsbury and Newport to Sher-
brooke. then possibly across Can
ada to Quebec.
Route No. will continue from
Boston to Albany via Fitchburg,
and over the Mohawk
Trail through Troy. With the ex-
tension of the new system, No.
will run through to Buffalo, then
over the Lake Shore road through
Erie, Cleveland and Toledo to Chi
cago and across the United States
to the Pacific coast
Route No. / will probably be
called Atlantic No. l." and IL the
states of California, Oregon and
Washington sd desire they can call
their coast route Pacific No. l."
Marking to Start Mt Once.
Connecticut Is ready to start
marking the poles at once, and
Route No. 1 will be marked from
the Bran bridge on the Boston Post
road as soon as weather permits
Rhode Island will also mark Route
No. to the Massachusetts line. and
nearly all the New England States
are prepared to commence at once
All routes in the New England
zone, especially the trunk Inns,
will be maintained by the State
departments.