The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-06
Notes,
Good Road News
and Trade Matter

mat not less than $3.50. e00, 900
would be saved to the country in
the cost of hauling the present record
breaking crop If 20 per cent of the
public highways of the country were
improved. Ia the assertion OF j. Il.
Pennybacker, Jr., executive secretary
of the American Road congress. which
is to be held in Atlantic City Septem-
Der 30th to October 5th. Mr. Penny
hacker, before becoming the secre-
try of tire American Association for
Highway Improvement. which, with
the American Automobile association
and the National Association of Ma
chinery and Material Manufacturers,
fs holding convention at Atlantic
City, was the chief OF the road man
segment department In the United
States Office Of public roads. has made
"a comparative study of the cost of
hauling crops over good and bad
roads.
Because of his knowledge Of the
actual needs OF the country, Mr.
rennyhacker Was selected as the
executive secretary of the American
Road congress, which Is to crystaIlize
the road movement In America In
an interview Mr.. Pennybaeker says
that he believes that the American
Road coRgress viii so influence pub
lie sentiment that II will be merely
a matter of a. few years before 20
per cent Of the public highways of
the United States will have been i'm
proved. At the present time little
over per cent Of the public highways
are OF the improved type
The governments prediction that
the crop now being harvested will
exceed any previous years Yield" said
Mr.. Pennybacker. should serve to
cali attention 10 the great losses that
are being sustained by farmers and
consumers in the hauling Of crops. II
Is estimated that the Improvement of
the main roads Of this country, ap-
proxfnateiy 20 per cent, would result
in an annual saving OF at least $3.50
100000 In the cost of hauling alone.
which would be sufficient to improve
$4,000 miles OF road at further cost
of $4,000 per mile. In five years
this would improve 100000 miles.
which would be Sufficient to bring
the total mileage of improved roads
up to 20 per cent
I There are more than $4,000, 600
farm horses and mules In the United
States valued at e2,7oo, 900, 600: about
]. 500. 900 horse drawn vehicles, valued
at ss3.0oo,o90. and more than 49,
GOO automobiles valued at about $780,
100000. A depreciation of per
cent, caused by the wear and tear
OF had rnadsr would amount to sIe4.-
100000 annually. which at $1,000 per
mtgf would be sufficient to build 49,
500 miles OF improved roads.
These are but a few great eco
| nomic facts which will be brought to
the attention OF the American people
at the American Road congress to
be held in Atlantic City September
Soth 10 October 5th, Once the people
realize the great waste involved In
bad roads, there win he little delay
In the Improvement of the main
arteries of commerce throughout the
| country. The whole subject is so. big
that we have made arrangements to
treat ii in sections at the congress
each section. such as legislative, adj
mtnistrative. fina nee and education
hasiag been placed under the aus
pres OF the representative organiza-
/ TONS in those particular fields"
/ b
| Uses Considerable Steel.
But one corporation In the country
| purchases and uses more steel in a
| year than does a single automobile
company Of Detroit
1t is estimated that the Ford Motor
! company will use more than $4,000
tons of steel during the coming year
| This is second only to the amour,
| OF steel used by the Harvester cor
poration, Fifis latter institution has
| many factories located throughout the
country. but all the steel purchased
| by the Ford Motor company is for use
| in its one Detroit factory.
BY placing the entire amount OF
| steel to be used by this factory dur
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