The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1940-12-26
Highways Fit
For War Needs
Demand for Super Roads
Doesn't Exist, Army
Experts Report.

1NI1ON.-ATIuy anu gov
eminent officials believe the United
States has no need for "superhigh-
ways" for rapid movement Of the
newly created streamlined army di-
visions and that the present high
way system, constructed for normal
commercial traffic, is adequate for
the nations defense.
The War department has laid out
a 75,000-mile strategic system of
highways reaching into every state
that will be needed if M-Day (mo-
bilization day. comes. The public
roads administration Is surveying
this system and believes that a ma
jor portion of it can be utilized with
only minor preliminary improve
ments.
Secretary Of War Henry L. Slim
son stated that "the war department
has found that highways construct
ed for commercial purposes and in
ternal development substantially fill
national defense needs"
Chairman Wilburn Cartwright Of
the house committee on roads OBJ
served the plan is mot to build a
lot Of new highways on a grand
scale"
Military requirements would i'm
pose no standards for roads or
bridges superior to those that would
be required for the accommodation
of normal commercial traffic." Cart
wright said.
Speed Is Essential.
Col. w. c. Caples, army engineer
corps, in a magazine article said
that in open warfare all supplies
must eventually reach the troops by
Either nation must construct its
roads in time of peace or have its
military operations hampered by the
necessity of waiting for road con-
struction during campaigns, Caples
said.
The army's modern division, pat
termed after the German "Panzer
DIVISION" will comprise more than
$4,000 vehicles and can be moved
300 miles in IA hours-if adequate
roads are available. The old nom
mechanical division covered 20
miles in long days march.
To provide for mass movements
under modern warfare, the stand
ards of construction for roads of mill
itary priority as recommended by
the war department are as follows:
Surface-hard surface capable of
supporting 9,OOO-pound wheel load on
pneumatic tires.
Width-minimum Of 20 feet.
Bridges to be feet in excess Of
approach roads.
Bridge load capacity, grade, cur
vature, clearance and sight distance
standards similar to those recon-
mended by the public roads admin
istration.
H-Day Designated.
Referring to the PBA survey Of
existing highway facilities, the Ma
tional highway users conference
stated that 10000, 1000 operators of
the United States 100000 motor
vehicles "are willing to share the
cost of improvements that may be
needed for normal traffic require
ments. But highways built for
strictly military purposes should be
paid for out of defense funds"
1.-THE greatest handicap to full
and effective use of the highways
in the national defense program"
the conference said, ''ies in the lack
of uniformity in state laws and regu-
lations governing sizes and weights
of vehicles, load limits, equipment
requirements and other barriers. ..
Highway improvements for de-
tense would be greatly expedited if.
instead of diverting upward Of
5000, 900, 900 annually for other
causes. all highway users revenue
were devoted to road purposes"
The conference has designated H
Day as "America's highway mobili-
cation day." When it comes, troops.
equipment, and supplies will move
over the highways for national de-
tense to make its predecessor, M
Day, success, the conference be-
ieveS.