The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-29
Motoring Notes
Good Roade News
and Trade Matters

poiat OK k0S0 Fo3do 9nlnuH4abtS All
many directions. II would be note-
record than the action Of many States
in making liberal roads a2propria- /
tons. New York tops the list with
the 100000 bond issue. added to
It's previous appropriation Of an equal
amount. Pennsylvania follows with
a proposed SSo.ooo.ooo appropria-
ton, which there Is assurance i, ~ be
legislature. In California an s1s.-
100000 bond Issue is now being ex-
pended. IN Maine the 100000 bond
issue has been authorized, to be met
by the automobile fees, smaller APP
propriationS In other States all point
to . vast betterment in road condi-
tons In the next few years, The de~
feat OF the 450.00o,o00 bond issue In
Ohio II the only discouraginz feutur.
Of the year, and even this. say Ohio
good roads advocates. Is certain to b. \
rsconsfdered in the near future.
or tho many conventions held dur
ing the year, two are especially note
worthy. The American road con
gress at Atlantic City. N. j.. brought
together road builders and road
users In enthusiastic cooperation.
Most important however, was the
nrst federal aid good roads conven-
bile association and held In WASH
ington. d. c.. in January. and out OF
which have already come result far
reaching and which give promise OF
greater things ut no distant day.
The federal aid convention formu-
lated the proposal Tor the appoint
ment Of . congressional committee to
investigate and report upon the wnoie
subject Of federal participation In
highway construction. The resolution
providing for such commission WAS
adopted by congress. the commission
was appointed. and 10 now at work.
The federal aid sentiment, already
strong In congress, found further ex-
preston In the appropriation of $780,
o0o for the Improvement OF rural
post roads, and tho good roads en-
thusiasm stimulated and crystaiiized
By the A. A. A., with the agricultural.
business and highway associations Co
operating, has spread throughout the
United States. 20 that the beginning
OF 1919 finds the federal aid question
to be not one Of whether the gov
eminent should spend national funds
upon roads. but ~ to the form which
such appropriations should taks.
| On this point another noteworthy
! event Of the year was the action OF
! the A. A. A. At its annual meeting In
! placing itself saaarely on record as
! favoring the construction Of sys-
i tenn Of national roads. and opposed
| TO the scattering and piecemeai dis
| tribution Of government funds for
purely local highways, which work
properly dsvolves on the States. with
county and township co-operat.vt..
Even though there In little iikelt-
hood OF the present congress taking
any important action on the subjecs
OF federal Aid. the joint committee ~
busiiy engaged collecting data and In
| formation upon which TO base its re-
port, All but one OF the mem bers
OF the joint committee have euher
been reelected to the house or their
continuance in the senate Is assured
The governors OF all the States have
been called upon for detailed infor-
E.a,ion az to highway conditions la
their respective states, and inforH'a-
ton Is also being gathered from high
| way departments and other sources
As a result the sixty-third consfest
| when II comes into existence on March
=, lsls, will have beioie 1t a eotunlt
of information on the subject OF gooa
roads never before available, ana
which will be Of vast service in for
muiating a policy OF federal aid.
The second federal aid convention.
to be held in Washington s.muitane
ousiy with the beginning of the new
congress, will bring the organized mo
florists, the farmers and the business
men who will be represented thert
into closer cooperation with con
gress on this matter, and undoubteu
~ will result in speedy action alona
federal aid lines This belief tina
1913 will see the beginning of new
national roads policy is strengthened
by the fact that the new president -.
the United States has placed himself
convincingiy on record in favor OF
federal aid.
Important Questions
Motor car manufacturers are
| watching with a great deal Of salts
faction the advance OF the good roads
idea throughout the United states,
SAYS John y. WHY'S. And when al!
is said ard done their interest in this
work IL only natural. for sooner OF
later their future success Will depend
TO q great extent on road improve
ments. l mean by this that the ume
win come, and that before many
years, when the question OF nign-
| ways will DO q mighty important one
with manufacturers
During the life of the industry the
most sc rlous question has been to
supply the people with cars. Before
long. with present tremendous out
puts and continually improving sell
ing methods. the present normal de-
mand for automobiles 10 going to be
supplied, and then win the mani
facturers have to look for something
to keep their product moving. Good
roads will do much to solve the prob
lem. Where there are now thousands
Of people throughout the country who
/ are unwilling to purchase car be-
cause Of poor road conditions. in {,
few years. at the present rate OF
/ htghway improvement. all these thou
sands; will have become converted
dyed In the-wool motor enthusiasts.
The plan OF enlisting government
assistance in the building of roads. as
outlined in the activities OF the Fed
ieEai- Aid Goods Roads association, Il
one Of the gFestest-factors In tn.
future Of the motor car industry
ne said.
THE object Of the organization Il
highly important one. Though tbs
United States has taken = world lead
in the manufacture OF automobiles. y
has been In spite OF her highway.
rather than because OF them. Ant
the sooner these conditions are rem
edied--and they can be remediet
properly only by the enlistment o.
federal forces--the sooner will thu
a. - - 49,