Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-16
Will
BRING ROAD SYSTEM
Government Now Has Vital In
tereSt in Interstate
Highways.

| Nothing has happened in recent years
that will so quickly bring system of
national highways as the Introduction
| Of the parcel post. The objections that
| have been raised in the past that the
government had no interest in interstate
! highways are now brushed aside The
| Constitution specifically provides for the
construction of post roads by the govern
+! ment Looking into the future. the par
eel post cannot be successful without
good highways, so that one will bring the
other.
For several years now the automobile
| manufacturers and automobile users have
| been working hand in. hand for the bet
terment of road conditions in America.
| This has been undertaken through local
campaigns, and now a broad and compre-
hensive campaign for national aid by
the government is being instituted. Good
roads make a motor car last longer than
poor roads and increase the possibilities
of the use of motor cars in every COM
munity. In other words better highways
facilitate individual transportation.
Wilson Favors Project.
President-elect Wilson has said that he
is in favor Of good roads because he be-
lieves that everything that makes for
better communication and quicker
spread Of truly national sentiment con-
stantly makes this country bigger and
stronger. The men elected to the new
Congress that opens in March are to a
very great extent already committed In
the affirmative on good roads legislation.
There probably has never been move
before Congress which has met with such
widespread favor and SO little opposition
~, ion of
opinions may differ in just what manner
good roads should be obtained, the senti-
ment is rapidly crystallizing that at the
head of the movement should be the
government, with its control of the main
trunk lines all over the country, cooper
atinS with the states and local commu-
mites, SO as to produce. as quickly as
possible a real system of highways, CO.
related and scientifically and properly
constructed
Is Complex Problem.
The actual making Of good highways
today is such complex problem that
it requires the systematic efforts OF our
larger administrative bodies to handle
these problems intelligently and cheaply.
The government has studied the question
of read materials for years. and has
maintained a most efficient department
for this purpose at Washington. What
the automobile manufacturer and user
want from now on Is practical co-opera-
ton between the Union. state and county,
and intelligent construction and super
vision in the matter Of actual highway
building.
1t is expected that the new Congress
will pass proper legislation to accomplish
these results In the meantime con-
slant campaign is being carried on In
every state in the Union to organize or
strengthen the local associations and fur
Their the construction of good highways in
each state. Although some very fine high
ways have been built in some of the more
thickly populated states, national aid will
be the only way to bring all the states in
the Union into line quickly and assure a
national system of highways equally valu-
able and useful to the Post Office Depart
ment. the farmer. the automobilist and
the War Department