THE NATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 
Most careful study should be made by the Federal Government 
in cooperation with State governments as to routes, the probable 
character of service over such routes, and the best form of construc- 
tion to meet such service. These studies should include ultimate 
economies of location and design. (Resolution, Ninth Annual 
Meeting, 1921.) 
TRANSCONTINENTAL HIGHWAYS 
The completion of transcontinental highways across the inter- 
mountain and semi-desert states is being delayed on account of the 
inability of those states to finance their proportion of that construc- 
tion on the basis of present federal appropriations for such highways. 
The greater part of those lands are still held in the name of the 
federal government which leaves an insufficient amount of taxable 
property for highway bonding purposes. It is, therefore, recom- 
mended that Congress consider an amendment to the present federal 
laws which will permit the completion of these highways at an early 
date. (Resolution, Twelfth Annual Meeting, 1924.) 
Forest HIGHWAYS 
The national forests, especially those in the western states, 
because of their great extent and location, include many of the 
most important mountain passes. They practically surround and 
control access to our national parks and interpose large areas of land 
under federal control between sections of our states held in private 
ownership. Roads into and across these vast forest areas are 
required not only to protect the government property in the forest 
from the constant menace of destruction by fire, but also to give 
access to the national parks; to enable private property to be 
reached and to complete highways available to inter and intrastate 
traffic. It is the duty of the federal government to provide these 
roads. 
Congress, therefore, should continue to appropriate needed 
funds, within the limits of a reasonable national budget, for the 
improvement of such forest highways, under the supervision of the 
Secretary of Agriculture. (Resolution, Thirteenth Annual Meeting, 
1925.) 
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