New-York tribune., 1909-02-15
ry5FoRn AUTOMOBILE LAWS.

4 substantial and promising step toward
rourb desired reform Of legislation for the regu-
lation of automobiles on public highways has
heen taken in the proposal Of uniform or ident-
cal ensctments in the three states OF New York,
Connecticut and New Jersey. Such action by
anv three states would be important. but II Is
obviously most important of all when it is taken
nv the three states which easily outrank all
others in the Importance of their relation TO the
automobile trade and TO the use Of motor vehi-
cles for Measure OF for business New York, OF
course. possesses by far the largest number or
automobiles while Connecticut and New Jersey
are. of all suburban regions, the most frequented
nv users of those vehicles; and in addition 10
local use. New Jersey is the great gateway ana
passageway between the metropolis and the
West and South and Connecticut serves SINH
larly at the East and North If these three
states can agree on an identical highway CODE
all other states should surely be able to do the
: same
The most serious question for consideration
in arranging such legislation is doubtless that
Of the construction and maintenance Of roads.
Indeed that is the most important question 10
be considered by any individual state in connee-
tiOn with its automobile laws The demand Tor
good roads for all purposes is much stronger
than that for the unembarrassed use OF roads
bv motor cars. These three states nave done
much for the improvement Of roads, and one OF
them claims TO have a larger proportonate
mileage of good roads than any other state IN
the Union. But it has been found that even the
hest of the macadam and telford roads which
have been built in the last thirty years are IN
s11i+e5 TO automobile traffic. They do not endure
the IMPACT and the friction Of those ponderouS
and swift machines. Roads which were practl-
csliv nerfect for other traffic, and which WOULD
have lasted for many years. have been reduced
in the last two or three years 10 almost hopeless
wrecks.
Men are beginning TO realize therefore that
the whole system Of improved roads must be
| largely reconstructed on a new and much more
COSTLY plan. Precisely what kind Of construc-
ton will best endure the stress of automobile
traffic is vet TO be determined. But in the exc
c4ltion Of the plans whenever they are compieted
if NAV be necessary for the state as a whole 70
| be concerned The day of local road masters
is nearing its end. With state laws providing
for the regulation of traffic and with 'trafnc
which roads Of ordinary construction are quite
unable 10 bear. il will probably be necessary for
the state 10 assume the cost Of road building and
to provide the expert engineering direction re-
ouired for the construction Of suitable highways
That will be the more strongly demanded for
the sake Of equity If the license fees and other
axes paid by the operators Of automobiles GO
not into the local but into the general state
revenue That automobiles should pay a special
tax for road maintenance is quite just and there
will be no serious objection TO it, though t Is
not 70 be expected that they should pay the
whole cost Of road maintenance They wear out
roads. bur the very fact that they traverse the
roads so freely and easily adds greatly TO value
of property, so that community or state can
well afford to spend more money on its roads
for their sake. in addition to what it gets from
them for the purpose