The San Francisco call., 1913-08-17
BIG FUND [EDED
FOR HIGHWAYS
California Gives $4,000, 900
for Roads, but Does Not
Provide for Patroling
Nearly $40, 900, 600 Being De
voted for Betterment of
Roads in United States

.In the neighborhood OF $4,000, 900
is now being devoted to the better
ment Of highways This shows the
United States. and especially California.
which is spending $4,000. 900 Of this
amount, is thoroughly alive to the ad-
vantages OF good roads, says A. J..
Kleinmeyer, Pacific coast manager Of
Thomas B. Jeffery & Co.
However, in all the reports that we
receive, there is no mention made OF
any moneys set aside for the upkeep
of the roads after they have been inn
proved. 1t is certainty that all this
good road work that is being accom-
plished will not be of the highest grade
for il Is almost impossible to find every
contractor fulfilling his obligations to
the highest point OF efficiency.
Therefore there will be pieces OF
road that will shortly show deteriora-
tion If this decay does not receive
attention at once, the public Will ma
that the public money spent on this
Improvement has been wasted The
same applies even to good road which
has to stand excessive wear. At the
first signs of decay the repairs should
be made.
We see no provisions made for any
patrolling of the improved state road.
There is no one on the lookout Tor de-
cay. This is a serious question, and a
movement should be at once started 70
meet the emergency, but how this is
to be done is question OF serious
debate.
sThe most feasible solution, I think.
will be found with the automobile
trade. Take, for instance. here In CAL
ifornia 1t would be possible with the
trade connections in every town or I'M
portance to thoroughly watch the road
conditions. 1t would mean consistent
and comprehensive cooperation. II
will mean the expenditure Of time and
money, but it is hard to see where
better investment could be made by
the motor car trade, which is sof di-
rectly affected by road conditions.
"There are two main motor car deal
ers' associations in this state One sit
uated in San Francisco and the other
in Los Angeles Each OF these should
establish paid good roads department,
handled by men who will devote their
entire time to the proposition. Through
this department it would be possible
to get in touch with every dealer IN
the state and to impress upon them the
Importance of keeping correct and
|
their vicinity.
This would mean that 1t would be
able to patrol every road in the state.
The plan would mean the dividing OF
the state into several main sections
subdivided into smaller portions. which
would bring the area down to size
that could be patrolled by local agent
1T undoubtedly would be claimed
that for the two dealers associations
mentioned to handle this scheme it
would mean the expenditure OF more
money than they could afford to de-
vote to the purpose. This is undoubt-
ed1y true. but, through the benefits to
be gained, it should be but an easy
matter to get yearly subscription
from every dealer in the state large
enough to defray the expenses.
IF such an organization were in
operation 1t would not mean that the
dealers would constantly have to pa
troll the roads. The owners of motor
cars would do this for the scheme.
There Is hardly an owner but who
would take pleasure watching for de-
terioration. knowing that there was in
existence the strong commercial organ
ization ready to see that the road is
properly kept up."