Committee desires to record its appreciation of the helpful services of this staff, and owes special acknowledgment to Harold E. Hilts, Edward H. Holmes, Arthur G. Siegle, Joseph Barnett, John T. Lynch, Olav K. Normann, D. W. Loutzenheiser, Clarence F. Rogers, David R. Levin, Conya L. Hardy, Mary S. Austin, and Margaret H. Davies for important contributions to the report. Finding that it would be unable to complete its review and essential further investigations by the date originally set by the President, the Committee on October 2, 1941, submitted a preliminary report to the Federal Works Administrator and requested an extension of time which it was hoped would be of short duration.
Shortly thereafter the Committee was deprived of the counsel of one of its most valued members by the death of the Honorable Bibb Graves, former Governor of Alabama. The appointment of Dr. Rexford Guy Tugwell as Governor of Puerto Rico made it difficult for him to continue his active participation, and the exigencies of war have further greatly lengthened the time required. It is believed, however, that the final report transmitted herewith is not too late to serve the President’s intended purpose to define the general character of a national system of interregional highways, the construction of which, if begun with the termination of the war emergency, will permit the productive utilization of much of the manpower and industrial capacity then likely to be available.
The Committee therefore hopes that you will approve its report and transmit it to the President for such favorable consideration and use as he may deem it to merit.
- Very respectfully,
- Thomas H. MacDonald, Chairman.
- G. Donald Kennedy, Vice Chairman.
- C. H. Purcel.
- Frederic A. Delano.
- Harland Bartholomew.
- Rexford Guy Tugwell.
- Very respectfully,
January 1, 1944.
