THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY PLAN.

The New York Times
March 18, 1900

To the Editor of The New York Times:

In your issue of to-day, Mr. John Brisben Walker, speaking at a social meeting of the Automobile Club of America, held at Healy's chophouse last evening, is quoted as saying that the idea of a great National macadamized highway from New York to San Francisco was born of the brain of Julian Hawthorne.  This statement, in that it does another injustice, will, I am sure, be gladly corrected.  Dr. John T. Nagle, the present Commissioner of Municipal Statistics, originated this plan some six or eight years ago.  Considerable publicity was given to the proposition, but it was not very enthusiastically taken up.  Dr. Nagle's belief was that such a great highway would furnish employment for thousands of men, and facilitate inter-State and inter-communal trade, having innumerable tributaries.

Gen. Ray Stone, whose name was mentioned at the meeting of the Automobile Club, knows that Dr. Nagle is the real parent of the great American highway or boulevard scheme.  Let honor be done to those to whom it is due.
New York, March 14, 1900.