Evening star., 1915-11-28
SENTIMENT GROWING FOR
FEDERAL AID FOR ROADS
Comments of Automobile Association
Officials Show Nations
Need.

Pronounced sentiment for SubStan-
tiai federal aid to the several states
In roads Improvement, in process Wis
IDLY since the arrival of the automo-
bile, has accumulated rapidly in the
past few months because OF the Euro
pean conflagration. Roads and motor
cars are playing big parts in that IL
tanic struggle and each quantity sup
plements the other. That the organ
ized motorists of this country should
increase their road efforts because OF
the situation abroad was inevitable.
Interesting at this time are the COM
ments of the president and living ex-
president of the American Automobile
Association, herewith expressed:
John A. Wilson of Pennsylvania,
present president. In the creatlon OF
the countrywide belief that the time
has arrived when the federal govern
ment shall cooperate with the seFeral
states in a definite roads program, the
organized automobilists can justly
claim much credit. The explanation IS
that the motor driven vehicle is road
traveller which gives slight need 70
county or state lines: and we are all
thinking in larger units than formerly.
Laurens Enos of New York, president
in 1913: Participation in the A. A A.
reliability tour OF 1913 convinced me
that the national government couid
not better serve Ine country dS d Ni4olC
than in giving roads cooperation 70
undeveloped states possessing wonder
full possibilities. While it is true that
the older states indirectly would con-
tribute through the federal Treasury,
1t would give to their mills and fac-
tories added markets for the sale OF
manufactured products.
Road Benefit Has Eroadened.
Robert P Hooper of Pennsylvania,
president in 191l-1912: once upon
time it was contended that roads i'm
provement gave preponderatins pen
eft to motor car owners. The sent1-
ment which now exists for logical help
from the national government to its
states makes clear how successful has
been the educational propaganda con-
Quoted by the a A. a. since its forIna-
tion in 1902
l. r Speare of Massachusetts,, presi
dent in 1909-1910: 1T is generally
recognized that the Old Bay State has
been in tha front ranks in the building
and maintenance of highways, which
means that our direct interest in the
question of federal help to the com
monwaalth might not be as pronounced
as is the case in states which have
only lust made a start. But we realize
that New England is a magnetic tour
ing territory and good roads connect
ing it with other states will mean a
William H. Hotchkiss of New York
president in 1s07-190S: While the
Empire state has spent and is spending
more money on its highways than any
other commonwealth of the county,
its citizens generally and particularly
its motorists, look with favor upon fed
eral participation in the accomplish
meut of a thoroughly comprehensive
national highways system. If we are
to have real nation we must add to
those things which are to be done un-
der federal supervision"
For Centralized Direction.
Elliot C. Lee of Massa chusetts. presi--
dent in 1905: Many miles of touring
in Great Britain and on the continent
tralixed direction of highways control
In order to obtain the main arteries
which nowadays means so much in the
development of a country. While mil
ftary necessity may have brought this
about in Europe, it is not unreasonable
10 assume that we may now employ,
Mt least partially, a similar argument
Julian A. Chase of Rhode Island, pres
adant in 1903: Though hailing from
the smallest state in the Union-and
one able to build and maintain its
roads without any federal assistance
realize the value and great need of
national government participation in
me early building of roads in many
sections of the country. OF course, 1t
is the motor vehicle which has given
an impetus to the larger viewpoint in
roads matters, and motor car owners
have only met their plain duty in en-
phasizing this necessity