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Show GOOD ROADS FOR MILITARY Smooth Highways Imperative in Proper Prop-er Movement of Army Equipment Equip-ment Along Coasts. It Is generally recognized by government gov-ernment officials, especially those of the army, that one of the most important im-portant phases of real military preparedness pre-paredness that can possibly be undertaken under-taken In this country is that which Is going on under the impetus of the good roads movement. The federal aid road act which was signed by Tresident Wilson last summer will probably play an Important part In this same interest. An appropriation of $73,000,000 has been provided for In this act for use in constructing rural post-roads, while the various states are to co-operate in providing a like fund. It Is planned thus for an expenditure expendi-ture of $150,000,000 on such roads within the next five years. Although the roads are intended primarily for the purpose of developing the resources re-sources of the national forests, and in the interest of ngriculture and other oth-er peaceful enterprises, some study Is now being made of their practical use in the interest of militury preparedness. prepared-ness. A good road, 'well built, well surfaced sur-faced and well drained may be, it is pointed out, of immense value from a military point of view. In the location of roads, particularly along the shore, special attention to military requirements require-ments In the laying out and planning of a highway may prove of inestimable value at some time in the future when that highway becomes a military road. From an economic standpoint it is estimated that it costs 23 cents to haul a ton a mile on the average country road under present conditions, while under proper conditions the cost would be but 13 cents. Whiie these figures measure a direct cost, there is an even greater indirect cost to consider with bad roads when the farmer must plan his operations according to the weather. It is a matter of special interest that at the present time roads on the Pacific coast and those in some of the important Atlantic states which Traffic on Courthouse Road, Spotsylvania Spotsyl-vania County, Virginia. would be of particular use for effective effec-tive military purposes in defending our coasts are already in very good condition. There is one trunk road which runs nil the way from southern California up through. Oregon, with many smaller roads branching from It, that is said to be in the best of condition. . Yet it is a matter of regret that the unsurfaced roads of the United States if laid out in a straight line would, it 'is estimated, girdle the earth at the equator more than eighty times, while the surfaced roads would reach but one-fourth ' that distance. However, there has been greatly increased expenditures ex-penditures for road building and maintenance main-tenance in the Inst decade and there is now a more hopeful outlook with the five-year construction program provided under the federal aid act. |