The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-24
MAY BUILD ROADS
In GREAT BRITAIN
Legislation Proposed Would
Solve Motor Problems.
NEW BILL HAS WIDE SCOPE
Highway Improvement I'm Country
Districts Vested In Boards of Com
missiOners Clothed with Special
POwers-May Seize Land and APP
PrOprtate Materials.

/ Motor traffic has awakened Great Brit
ain TO the need OF extensive improve
ments of its country highways A bill
has been introduced In Parliament which
Consul General Grifiiths. Of London, says
is far reaching in its effects II It be-
comes a law and its terms are carried
out with characteristic British thorough
ness. the British isles viii in tine be-
come the automobilist paradise. With
reference to the ideas Of public improve
ment in the minds of the trainers and
supporters Of this BILL Consul General
Gufiths says:
While the bill provides for the develop
ment Of forestry. agriculture. and rural
Industries, the reclamation and drain
age of land. the construction and inn
provement OF harbors and canals, the
development and improvement Of fish,
cries. and other purposes calculated TO
promote the economic development OF
the United Kingdom, II Is the portion
which relates 10 road Improvement that
is attracting the most attention.
| This Is the outgrowth OF a very gen
eral feeling that some action must be
| taken with reference to the rapidly in
/ creasing motor traffic The most tray
eled country roads are being badly cut
up by the motor cars which pass over
/ them at high rate Of speed. the value Of
adjoining property is often appreclably
/ lessened, the comfort and convenience
of pedestrians and those using other
means OF locomotiOn arc seriously inter-
fered with. and their safety often endan-
gered.
Powers Granted I'm the Bill.
The development bill. il II passes into
law and is carried out In the spirit which
prompted it. wifi tend 10 solve some of
the present day motor traffic problems.
The road improvements referred to re-
late wholly to the building OF special
roads for the use OF motor cars. The
management and control Of these roads
will be vested IN a small board OF five
or seven members, only one Of whom,
either the chairman or vice chairman.
! receive a salary The board is 90 have
power to construct new roads entirely
on ITS own initiative. or indirectly
/ through the existing highway authori-
ties. who will be induced TO act through
grants and loans made upon condition
| that they will undertake 20 build new
roads. or 20 improve established high
ways, with direct reference to mOtor-car
( traffic.
Any road that is constructed by the
road board will be primarily a road de-
signed for the use OF motor cars. and
! the speed limit viii be removed as "a
such a road. The board may allow the
road. nevertheless, 20 be used for other
/ kinds Of traffic. n Il deems u eXpedi-
ent 10 do so. and in that event a charge
may be made for such use Of the road
Other roads can only connect with the
motor roads upon permission granted by
the road board. Compulsory power IS
given for the acquisition OF land FOR
road purposes and power is further
| granted in rural districts 20 acquire land
for a width OF 30 yards on either side Of
the motor road. II is believed that
/ through the exercise Of this last-named
power the road board viii derive a sub
stantial revenue in the increase in value
OF said adjoining land for building pur-
poses, as well as from the amounts
that will be paid for the outside use OF
motor roads.
Special Fund Provided.
The expenses OF the road board grow
ing out of the construction Of the motor
roads and their maintenance will be de-
frayed out OF a specially constituted
fund, to which the net proceeds Of the
duties on motor spirit and on licenses
for motor cars will be carried. In the
/ construction of the motor roads IL is
provided that special attention shall be
paid 20 the labor conditions Of the vari-
Gus districts in which the roads may be
built, and that as far as possible men
out of work viii be employed.
The construction Of separate roads fol
motorists viii doubtless meet with gen.
| eral favor, because Of the urgency OF the
situation. though il IS admitted that II
is a radical departure to employ public
funds, even in part. for the use and ben
eft Of q special class. The answer to
this. however, is that it is for the benefit
Of all classes who are compelled TO use
highways, which, of course, is practi-
cally the entire population Of the coun-
try.
Il Is proposed that the new motor
roads should avoid as far as possible the
small towns and villages; that is 10
say. that they should pass around in
stead OF through them. thereby remov-
ing the danger which now exists by rea-
son OF a certain class OF motorists pass
ing through such places with little re-
gard to the safety OF the inhabitants
I 4. -