The San Francisco call., 1910-02-20
MOTORS BROUGHT
BETTER HIGHWAYS
Longing for Improvement Began
When Chuck Holes Were
Encountered

There is one question closely asso-
ciated with the automobile which is
now and for many years viii be promi-
nently before the legislatures and the
people OF nearly every state in the
union This is the great question
oi road building and maintenance.
LBere has been far reaching
and tremendous awakening among
all classes and in all sections of
our country TO the necessity and
The great Importance Of building
suitable highways The interest which
Is being shown is evinced by the second
national good roads convention and
congress recently held in the city of
baltimore, by the conventions which
have been held at various other cities
ana oy the plans for further conven-
tions to be held in the near future
At IS also shown by the mem bers Of
many farming communities where the
progressive farmers have been stirred
70 action. Why an Of this activity To
What can be attributed this widespread
movement, which is destined beyond
doubt 10 emancipate the dwellers in
our rural districts from the mud en-
saved condition in which they have
peacefully wallOwed since the time our
IoreIathers outlined our first highways.
by cutting into the primevaI forests
The automobile, the much maligned,
tne destroyer Of roads, the dust pro-
Queer, II is responsible. In fact it is
almost the only factor which has
brought about this crusade against the
miserable road conditions which have
ever existed in our otherwise beautiful
country We say Tnaiigned and we be
leVe we use the term advisedlv for
of all known road builders. Wherever
fts appearance has been made. there inn /
rDedfately followed the desire for bet
TOY roads; individual work was done.
Fleetf DgS held and concerted action. !
sooner or later. followed. In spite of
these wei known and salient facts. the
automobile Is held up 10 us AS q great
road destroyer. and whE2 Simply be
cause excessive automobile traffic over I
some Of our half built and antiQUated /
SO called roads has resulted in tearing
"ff The top surface and depositing il on 1
the d0orsteps in the houses. and even 1
IN the very mouths Of the adjacent (
residents- Instead OF meeting the qUes- Z
rion fairly and squareIy with the ac- /
NuOwledgment that the roads We're out I
cf date and not nj 10 cope with present +
day traffic conditions. those in the few
districts most affected have set them /
selves 10 leEislate out OF use the most 4
progressive and civilizing influence /
which has been felt for many years
We do not deny that the automobile I
damages the present inadequate road |
system; but we feel that this is much 4
more than Offset by the tremendous
educational influence toward good road
building which the automobile has un-
Guestionably exercised throughout the
length and breadth Of our country. To /
point TO the isolated and individual /
roads which have been injured by eN-
cessive automobile traffic is in reality
begging the main question and is Ger
tsinly overlooking the most important
stem in the case, namely, the good /
roads influence, created and maintained
bE the widespread and ever -increas-
ing use. Of this modern annihiIator of
distance, the automobile. Even at The
present time the government is max !
ing tests 10 ascertain scientifically the i
effect Of automobile traffic on various
kinds of road surfaces. These are .In-
dOubtedly but the fOrerunners of many
varied and exhaustive tests which will
be made in the near future That
decided detrimental effect will be
shown is not to be disputed, but this
IS no reason to endeaVor to legisIate
the automobile off the road That ac-
ton is not in keeping with the spirit
of a progressive nation The fact must
not be overlooked that the inevita BILE
result Of these combined tests will be
The development of new engineering
road building methods, and roads which
VIII withstand automobile traffic, which