Address by Honorable Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior at Conference of Regional Chairmen of the Highways Transport Committee Council of National Defense

"Address by Honorable Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior at Conference of Regional Chairmen of the Highways Transport Committee Council of National Defense" is a historical governmental address delivered during World War I, highlighting the crucial need to enhance the national highway system for wartime logistics and future national development. Lane's speech emphasizes the significance of highways in connecting communities and enabling efficient transportation. His address outlines that improved highways would support the war and help returning soldiers integrate into civilian life. He argues that roads are essential for communication and commerce, and he compares them to historic military roads that influenced war outcomes. Lane pushes for a cohesive plan that builds and maintains highways and coordinates transportation. He envisions the reclamation of land to create agricultural opportunities for returning soldiers. Lane’s address presents an interconnected, self-reliant America and underscores the need for cooperative effort among citizens for a better future.