The San Francisco call., 1908-12-20
LACK OF UNITY
IN MOTOR LAWS
Matters Pertaining to Autos
Discussed at Conference of
Eastern Governors
Betterment of Highways in Dif-
ferent States Is Considered at
Important COnclaye

terest has been held in Boston by the
governors and governors elect of the SIX
New England states. The object OF the
conclave was to consider uniform motor
laws and the betterment of the high
ways of the different states. Governor
Guild OF Massachusetts made the sug-
gestion which resulted in the calllng
of the convention, which was heartily
responded to, and which will become an
annual event. The two days were run
of the exchange of ideas on Legislation
and good roads. and will bear sooo
fruit.
When Governor Guild called the ses-
sion TO order there were on the stage
of the fremont theater the following
Governors William T. Cobb of Maine,
Charles NJ. Floyd of New Hampshire,
Rollin S. Woodruff of Connecticut ana
Curtis Guild Jr. of Massachusetts.
Governor James II. Higgins of Rhode
Island was represented by Lleutehaht
Governor Ralph C. Watrous. The gov
ernors elect on the stage were: Bert NJ:
Fernald of Maine, George III. Prouty OF
Vermont, Eben S. Draper of Massachus-
etts; Aram ]. Poth1er of Rhode Island
and George l.. Lilley of Connecticut
Among those present in the audience,
which numbered more than 500, were
many of the local motor dealers, as
well as some from other states. large
number of motorists We're present.
LACK OF UNIFORM LAWS
Among other things it was brought
out that there was az very serious lack
of unity in existing motor laws. Tnat
the highways need to be taken out OF
local control, and that nothing saYorlhS
of politics should enter into the care
of them was emphasized. The fact that
Massachusetts has spent millions on
good roads made an impression on
every one and while at present
nothing has been found that Will with
stand the wear and tear OF the motor
car experiments are being conducted
which will result In nondestructlve
highway eventually.
| Many facts and figures startled the
| interested listeners, as in the case OF
| the 2,150000 miles of highway in this
country only per cent, or l52,VOO miies
have been improved These were divided
| as follows: 10S, 200 gravel, $4,000 mac
adam and 5000 other filing. That bad
roads are costly was shown by the
! following figures: To move ton OF
heavy material ii costs an average OIL
! % cents per mile. Statistics showed
that on good roads of macadanl 1t would
cost 8 cents per mile; on ordinary stone
roads II cents per mile; on bad country
roads 90 cents per mile: on wet, sandy
roads, SO cents per mile; and on dry
sandy roads. ca cents per mile
ANNUAL COST OF ROAD
Tt was estimated that it would only
tcost 500 mile annually to keep a
good first class road in shape were II
| not for the motor car. Now the nsure
has been raised to $780, 1t was said
that where the mistake was made was
in not training men to take care ol
! the roads. as is done in different coun-
| tries Of Europe. With regard to this
| it was suggested that men be secured
/ to look after the roads who would be
there on account of their ability anc
not through any political pull.
1t was pointed out by Ex-Governor
Batchelder of New Hampshire that the
registration fee of motor vehicles II
! Massachusetts, and other states was {
| double taxation. 1t was shown that th'
improvements of the road lead to in
creased prosperity. that the more edu
Gated the community the better th'
highways, and that fine roads induce
| people to come to states having them
On the other hand it was shown tina
the highways should be improved fol
business first, and for pleasure after
| ward
VITAL POINTS OF MATTER
Another speaker who brought out th'
vital points of the question was Harols
Parker, chairman of the highway com
lmissioners of Massachusetts,. He ha.
been a member of the commission fol
eight years, and has just returned from
a trip to Europe, where he and Secre-
Itary Austin B. Fletcher were delegate:
10 the international good roads con
gress in Paris. He said, in part
at has been found by long exper-
Hence that, where it is possible to ayoiC
lii gradient of more than 61a pei
lcent should not be permitted on a stone
lroad. 1t has been determined that OF
an ordinary macadam road in the coun
try the crown should be from one hall
to three-quarters of an inch to the
/ foot for a greater descent than this
carries the water Oft too fast and COM
pels vehicles to travel in the center OF
| the road thus wearing out the center
more rapidly than any other part oi
the highway, and tending to rut it
and less than this will not permit, under
ordinary circumstances, of the proper
surface drainage.
whether a road is to be built oi