Show STRATEGIC ROADS TO TOBE TOBE BE BUILT BY FEDERAL AID First Military Highway May Parallel United States- States Mexico Border WASHINGTON July 22 StrategiC SU Strategic highways can cnn now be constructed pursuant pur pur- to the provision of the tho federal aid ald roads roas bill which has Just been signed by President Wilson The first of ot these highways necessary for military purposes would naturally be bethe bethe the road which parallels the boundary I Ithe between the United States and Mexico and traverse the tho states of ot Texas New Mexico Arizona and California The cost of construction of these Jointly built highways is to be borne 50 per cent by the federal government and 60 per cent by the states the federal monies being divided proportionate to tu area population and post road mileage The largest amount allotted to any state is to Texas by reason of Its large larAe I area The other three mentioned states state also have a very large largo allowance I Therefore it would be possible to obtain out of ot the appropriations for this year ear and 1917 over a million and a half haIC of at federal monies which together with the contributions of the tho state would make over available for construction oJ f the Mexican frontier highway comments Chairman George Geore GeorgeC C C. C Diehl Diehi of the A. A A. A A. A good roads board While it is I not possible to give Alv an exact estimate of the cost of construction construction tion per mile yet it is altogether construe I likely that the first two appropriations by bythe bythe bythe the national government would be sufficient sufficient suf sot to entirely complete this highway high f way which would be useful not only I from military and commercial standpoints stand stand- stand stand-I points but would attract road travelers from all over o the country particularly those driving to or from points In southern California It is interesting to note noto that the next most Important highways from a R. military viewpoint are those alon along the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards ls Long stretches these roads have already been improved and from tho the monies I available R from the first and second ap appropriations appropriations ap- ap the connecting gaps can be completed so o that within a no period I ap-I of two or three years complete road ar along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and the tho Mexican frontier can be constructed I There will vill remain then only tile tl highway along the northern boundary of the United States to make a circle of ot highways around the margin of the entire country This marginal highway can be supplemented b by three highways east and west and eight Ight or nine highways highways high high- ways north and south within the high I limit of the amount stated In the federal aid good roads bill and what the states stats will willi contribute This system of federal I roads in connection with what the various states are doing within a period period pe pe- pe- pe I nod of ot six or seven years will vill make mako for a It most comprehensive internal de development de de- of ot the country and the highways highways high high- ways will serve military commercial I and nd general travel purposes |