The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-11
Motoring Notes,
Good Road News
and rade Matter

A practical effort to bring the sup
ply of expert highway engineers TO
the point where they will TO nuner-
GUS enough to meet the demand for
their services Is to be made at the
American Road congress 10 be held.
on the Million Dollar pier In Attain
tic city September 3oth 10 October
18th At the present time win the
people of the United States spending
more han S2e0 0oD. 600 a year for ne
Improvement Of highways the demand
fer expert highway engineers exceeds
the suppl There Is to lre a confer
encs of eduC3 GioEai Institutions [ the
American Road congress to la directed
by the Society for the promotion Of
Engineering Education. and through
this conference efforts ars to be made
to induce the leading universities to
esta hlish specific and practical
courses fer the Instruction Of high
Nay engineers.
AT the present TIVE there are about
eighty-two univ erslties devoting some
attention TO highway engineering. The
instruction in this branch ef engineer
ing. howese is in most cases. mere
ly pari ~ the general training % en-
gineers SO that there will he "A sufti-
cient number or trained men to handle
the great problem thar has been thrust
upon the United States by the wide
spread agitation for n better system
OF public highways that Will reduce
the cost OF hauling crops and permit
shipments rs farmers al all seasons
OF the year
Roads and National Aid.
National roads are coming in for
repeated references in the Senate de-
bales relating TO ihe postoffice appro-
rriatsons bill, Ii IL evident that there
Is constnatlS growing belief that
the federal government before long
should concern itself with the con-
struction OF trunk line roads, thus
encouraging and making more CON
Nentent the great hood II Interstate
trayel. which. according "a the Amer
tesn Automobile association touring
board. Is greater M the present time
than II has ever been since the corn
ing Of the motor driven vehicle,
During the debate IN the senate.
Senator swanson. Of Virginia. made
this comment. we are now confront
ed with the proposition whether the
federal government shall or shall not
extend aid for the development i'm
provenent. and construction OF high
WAYS The time has arrived. or win
very soon arrive. when the people or
the United States will demand that
the federal government shah extend
proper aid. Whatever may be the
views of some, 1t Is IA question that
must ne inevitably met. and one that
cannot be- shirked. When govern
nent comes to extend aid for roads
there are two ways by which II can
be done II can furnish the money
and construct the road itself or IL can
aid, stimulate, and lend inducement
to the local authorities TO do the work
OF road construction and improve
ment.''
Tile resolution adopted at the Wash
,tngton Federal Aid convention In Jan
uary last. for which the, A A A. ma
tional good roads board was spon-
Sor, calling for joint committee of
the two houses. was the basis of
recommendation made 10 the senate
by its committee on postoffices and
post roads This recommendation
provided that a Joint committee be
created composed OF three members
OF the senate committee and three
members Of the house committee. to
make inquiry into the subject of fed
eral aid In the construction or high
ways. and To report at the earliest
practicable date.
There 4. nothing so pardonable in
the motorists as the habit of blowing
his own horn--at the proper time
! Horns that should blow and refuse 10
blow. It appears. can usually % male
to blow with very little simpt9 TN
kering. About seventy Ave per cent
OF the horns which are sent back 70
their makers as totally tncapacitated
for further duty are fixed with small
esrewdriver and few drops Of oil. As
amazing As II may seem, m this me-
ahanlcal are. tia majority Of electric