[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18153]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY

 Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I am pleased to commemorate the 
90th anniversary of the Lincoln Highway, which was officially routed 
through Washington, DC, on July 27, 1915, making it a true national 
highway. The construction of the highway was not only an important 
milestone in our Nation's history, but it has also served as a 
significant link in the development of Maryland's highway system.
  The highway was first conceived in 1912, when most roads were little 
more than deeply rutted wagon trails. But with the rise of the 
automobile, the need for a transcontinental road had become 
increasingly apparent and ambitious plans were laid for this enormous 
undertaking.
  The original proposed route for the highway ran from New York to 
California, but did not pass through Maryland or the Nation's Capital. 
COL Robert Harper, who at the time was President of the DC Chamber of 
Commerce and chairman of the Lincoln Highway Feeder Committee, lead a 
campaign to have the route altered to pass by the Lincoln Memorial. He 
approached Maryland Senator Blair Lee, whose seat I am proud to occupy, 
asking for help in the rerouting of the thoroughfare. Senator Lee wrote 
to President Woodrow Wilson and arranged a meeting between the 
President and Colonel Harper. That meeting led President Wilson to 
lobby on behalf of the proposed change in the route.
  Through the efforts of President Wilson, Senator Lee, and Colonel 
Harper, the President of the Lincoln Highway Association was convinced 
to change the course of the highway so that it could pass through the 
Nation's Capital. This change brought additional visitors to both the 
State of Maryland and Washington, DC. In addition, the change preserved 
the spirit of President Abraham Lincoln and united the west and east 
coasts of the United States of America.
  I am pleased to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Lincoln 
Highway a ``Road of Character'' and a ``Perpetual Memorial'' to 
President Lincoln which both commemorated a great leader and paved the 
way for the future of transportation in America.

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