U. S. Highway System

[Gregory Matthews]

In July, 1919, the U.S./ Army decided to test the ability of  the U.S. highways to sustain travel across the country.  A Fleet of 80 military trucks an other vehicles departed from Washington D. C.  Sixty-two days later they reached San Francisco.    Their average travel speed  was six miles per-hour.  In Nevada, much of the road was dirt.  The convoy experienced 230 breakdowns and accidents.  One of the Officers on that trip, later became President of the United States.  In 1953, President Eisenhower made what became the Interstate Highway system a key part of his agenda.

 

NOTE:  Thanks to Patrick Chaisson, writing in "Ike and the Interstates," in the November 2024 issue of Military Officer.