The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-20
AUTOMOBILES HELP
GOOD ROADS PLAN
John n. WHY'S Says They
Give Highway Work It's
Chief Impetus.
CITES LINCOLN HIGHWAY

The awakening Of public interest to
me importance Of good roads in this
country was given Its CHIEF impetus
through the agency Of the automobile.
according to John n. WHY'S, president
of the Wtllys- Overland Company. who
has made an exhaustive study OF the
Eood roads subject.
'Tne amount " money spent In this
country last year on highway cOnstruc-
ton amounted to approximately $780,
DOC, 900. bat this huge expenditure was
more than offset by the fact that and
values in most localities were increased
anywhere from 100 to 400 per cent. by
I'M: road improvements. II an equal
amount of money Is put into road i'm
provemcnts each year for the next ten
wears the Cni'sc States will be able to
boast OF more ts.D a half million miles
oil good rNcds representing a cost of
81 500, 900. oro ord an appreciation In
land values - 'uiiy s25. OoO.o 00. 900.
The big trunk Hines. such as the
Lincoln 1iishway and Dixie Highway.
never would rave been started had It
not been for the motor car" says Mr..
W..lye. "ind these ITO. ] believe TO
be hut the forerunners Of others that
In time will give the United States as
nne a system of highways AZ can be
found In the world.
what the coming Of the automobile
has accomplished in the way of road
Improvement work during the rast ten
sears II nothing compared to what II
will do In the future. When you stop TO
consider that there Is more h a one
motor vehicle to every nifty people IN
thu country. Il Is easy to undcrstand
the tremendous interest taken IN the
good roads movement.
with over two million cars IN Use at
the present time and with m additional
l,1O0.O00 planned for the year 1916. 1t
u only logical to believe that In the
years 10 come the proportion of good
roads In the United States will be far
In excess OF VITA; 1t Is to-day.
"Figurcs compiled by experts show
that only 10 per cent of our public roads
are improved. while IN many States the
improved roads number less than > per
cent. And, had II not been for the
motor cars. this percentage would be still
lower. for during the past ten years We
have built more good roads than in all
our previous history.
ain the report of the United States
Department If Agriculture II Is esti-
mated thL' tn farmers Of this country
are losinr $3.50. 0oo ono annually on ac-
count of the .uacc,ssIbility OF their pro-
0uCtS dt tfI1tlU 1tilA'S VI tlt year. uue
to bad road conditions. This loss to the
faSnlers j. equal tu tho amount spent
last year in road Improvement work. and
Il will he interesting 10 note the next
Government report TO see II the farm
ers' losses hAN. not been lessered ma
terially 10y this huge expenditure for
better roads.
"roo much credit cannot he given
to the AUTOMOBILE frr the road i'm.
provements thyi are going on all over
the country. Tn. town or village that
neGlects It's streets or roadways * given
a wide berth by tourists and motorists In
general The ability of the motor car
to cover long distances quickly and eco-
nomical,y enables It's owner to do his
trading IN n" ~ that offers the hes,
approach 20 us stores.
'That = IN, chief reason why the
NOR progressive towns TODAY are pay.
ing strict at'eut.ou TO the roLdways that
lead into them. Connection between
cities and towns has forced them TO TAKE
care Of the needs Of the motorist and
by Improving their t~horourhfar-s they
have benefited 'h' wlio', community.
Newspapers and magazines are do
ing all in their power to further the
good roads movement. MANY 80 their
are going 80 far As Ia publish automo-
bile routes that tell at e. glance which