The Detroit times., 1913-01-04
TRUNK Lines
ARE NATURAL
SEQUENCE NOW
Will Follow the Multiplication of
Highways Travel in This
Country
STATE HIGHWAY MEN
COMMITTING SELVES
Confess That They Are Inter.
ested in the A. A. AS
Projects

trunk line routes, both tnter-cOunty
and Interstate, are a natural sequence
in the astonishing multiplication OF
highways travel. In the mass Of cor.
respondence which Chairman George
G. Diehl, OF the A. A. A. National
Good Roads board, Is receiving in
connection with the Federal Aid Good
Roads convention TO take place in
Washington, ID. c., March 6 and z.
there are many letters which indicate
nationwide recognition OF this fact
In the progress OF the movement all
over the country
State Highway Commissioner
Sohier. OF Massachusetts, state
wherein road construction and main
tenance have been reduced TO a
science. frankly confesses that he is
very much interested In the Federal
Aid subject. particularly In how the
money should be spent. Commission.
er Sohier contends that il is absolute.
ly essential.
THAT the money should be spent
upon a small enough number OF roads
20 that there will be sufficient money
available to make the expenditure
show for something and be worth
something, not only for one year, but
for a reasonable series OF years" Re-
ferring 10 the roads which would
come under the head Of National
to be improved, constructed or main
tanned, the commissioner believes
that the work should be under control
Of a representative OF the national
government, and representatly e
from the state, such selection oil
roads TO be safeguarded from any
semblance OF the pork barrel" propo-
sition.
| State Engineer Lea. of South Da
kota, state in which the roads
question is OF comparatively recent
agitation, makes this pertinent com
ment: I'VE are making special efforts
toward the establishment Of trunk
| line roads across the state. 1t Is ex
pected that later on tributary roaoi
will be built to the trunk roads, thII
providing complete road system 10
the state. We are advancing in Soutl
Dakota because of the better under
standing by the farmers OF the roads
Question. The problem OF the rela
tion between Federal Aid and the
work that Is being done by the statei
themselves would be answered BY
having harmonious cooperation be
tween federal and state departments.
1t Is no longer debatable that the
million users of the motor-driycn
vehicle throughout the country are
responsible for adding a new factor
In the problem of transportation and
While the use of automobiles has
Ixxyfd hn - al tn n
sections local travel for the most part
is still drawn by horse. This traffic
revolution makes necessary new
basis OF the highways. Chairman
Diehl summarizes the situation In
these words:
There are certain main roads IN
every community leading TO county
seats and very populous centers, the
cost OF which il would be unjust TO
tax upon townships, for the useful
ness of these roads under the new
conditions includes the county as q
whole. Consequently each township,
and incidentally each property owner,
should only pay his proper share In
the Improvement OF this class OF
highways The wider area OF travel
makes necessary the opening OF I'm
proved highways between county
seats, leading TO populous centers,
and important marketing points.
The same relation which exists
between the town and county, and
between the county and state in the
/ improvement of certain classes OF
highways, should exist between each
state and federal government. High
ways OF an interstate character, those
leading from the capital OF one stats
to the capital OF anothsT; those trunk
| lines leading TO great centers of popu-
lation; to points OF public interest;
to popular resorts; in fact any high
way the major portion of the mileage
travel over which originates outside
the state, should properly be con
structed at the expense OF the federal
payarnmant"