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

In September 1918, the Secretary of the Interior addressed a gathering of regional chairmen for the Highways Transport Committee, laying out a bold vision for America’s road network at a critical moment in the war. The speech frames highways not merely as routes for vehicles, but as the very arteries that gauge a nation’s civilization and unity, especially when railroads are stretched thin by wartime demands.

Lane argues that expanding motor‑truck use and removing restrictive regulations will relieve the rail system and strengthen national defense. He draws striking parallels to France’s historic roads, suggesting that well‑planned highways have long underpinned military success and societal cohesion. The address also records the Council of National Defense’s resolution to unleash the full potential of motor transport across the states.

Listeners will gain a vivid snapshot of early twentieth‑century policy‑making, where infrastructure, morale, and wartime logistics intersected. The document offers a compelling glimpse into how America began to reshape its highways into a strategic asset, making it an essential listen for anyone fascinated by the roots of modern transportation planning.