Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-06
GOOD ROADS QUESTION
NEARS DEFINITE ACTION
Plans for Federal Aid to Be En-
bodied in Legislation by
Present Congress.
Chairman Diehl of A. A. A. Board
Talks on Problem Confronting
States and Demands of Travel.

Gradually and insistently the federal
aid in good roads question has APP
preached a definite expression. which
will be embodied in legislation adopt
ed by the present Congress-" is the
comment of Chairman George c. Diehl
of A. A. A. national good roads board
in reference to the multiplicity of
highways measures which are going
through the nations Legislative mill at
the Capitol.
The concern of the motor car owner.
despite any assertion to the contrary
and borne out by the exact facts, is
the same as that of any other citizen.
Because of greater opportunity of OBJ
servation and a yearly mileage which
disregards township. county and state
lines, the user of the self-propelled We
hicle has realized in advance of other
road travellers that multiplying popula-
ton and the increasing requirements
of comprehensive intercourse have rev.
olutionized highways construction and
maintenance methods.
The state must now approach the
problem from the viewpoint, first, OF
the necessities of the commonwealth,
ana must relleVe the counties OF tnosc
thoroughfares the cost of which has
become exceedingly burdensome
through the swelling streams of travel
from tributary roads, making impera-
tive modern building and upkeep.
Federal Cooperation Sought.
so great has this call from the
counties accumulated that the states
now approach the federal source for
cooperation essential to the healthful
development of the nation. Neighborli-
ness once restricted itself to localities
within the ability of the muscle drawn
vehicle. But a new and economical
form of transportation for humans and
the exchange of commodities is as
toundingly accelerating road commerce
the changed conditions is worse than
standing still.
The bills now pending in Congress
very properly provide that only those
highways shall be improved which are
agreed upon between the state author
ity and the federal authority. The pur-
pose of this, of course, Is to make FOR
connected and we'll developed sys-
tenn. and 1t Is comparatively easy for
the federal Official to reject an applica-
ton from a state because it is not on
a main thoroughfare. But 1t would be
next to impossible for him to reject
an application for a maintenance ex-
penditure for the same reason. i view
at this time with much concern the
employment of federal money for
maintenance purposes"
Senator Cores Highway Views.
The so-called Shackleford bill. which
passed the House of Representatives,
now rests with the committee on agri-
culture, of which Senator Gore Of Okla
homa is the chairman.
In a recent address Senator Gore thus
commented upon the new roads ques-
ton: THE general government should
cooperate with the state governments,
paying dollar for dollar. in the estab-
lishment and construction of a system
of national highways. The expendi-
ture should be dollar for dollar, in Or
der to safeguard against the pork
barrel
"A federal revenue of s25,000,000 a
year from inheritances would pay the
interest on s500.000,000 of state bonds.
This amount judiciously and jointly ex-
pended by the federal and state gov
ernments would render possible the
early constructio nof an unequaled sys-
TEN of local and national highways.
With such a system of highways the
self-propelled vehicle would revolu-
tionize rural transportation in the
United States. This is an automobile
age. and this is entitled to be an auto
mobile country"