New-York tribune., 1918-11-17
P. 0. Department Man
Says 1t Would Be
Profitable Plan

Highway Traffic Association OF the
State of New York, held at the Auto
mobile Club of America, government,
state, county and municipal officials
and officers of several organizations
interested in highway problems par
ticlpated in the formation of the Ma
t'ona) Highway Traffic Association. The
object of the new organization is the
advancement of the efficiency and reg
ulation of highway traffic. The asso-
citation will publish reports. standards
promote sound legislation pertaining
to highway traffic. Besides the usual
executive officers there will be five
vice presidents, representing different
sections of the United States, and
director from each state and territory
of the Union.
James l. Blakeslee, Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General of the United
States, outlined plan for the utiliza-
ton of the men now in service in an
extensive development of the motor
! truck parcel post routes. He proposed
that we use the available military
equipment and such available military
personnel in the construction and oper-
alton of a governmental enterprise that
will be Immediately profitable and
which, in turn, will produce sufficient
and operation"
He further stated: "I am informed
that there are 100000 motor vehicles
now in use or in process of construc-
ton for military purposes. | am GER
tain that a vast number, if not the
majority of this surplus equipment, can
be utilized in the transportation of
merchandise and commodities through
territory within the country that is
NO +o1.
means OF transportation and is located
in productive localities where made
quate means of conveyance obtain.
10 properly utilize such an enormous
number of moving units would require
the service of an equally huge army of
individuals, and thereby provide en-
ployment for thousands of men who
have been making a sacrifice for us
all.
Three Highway Systems
"One of the greatest difficulties that
confront the advocates of good roads
| in this country is the cost of construc-
that there should be three different
methods of meeting the cost of the
construction and improvement of high.
ways.
First: For highway entirely fed
eral or national in character. Thi,
main line, or through connecting ma
tlonal highway, should be utilized b,
the Federal government in the trans
portatlon of commodities upon which
a revenue should be earned sufficient
to meet the expenses of Transportation
and to provide for the improvement
: and maintenance of the roadway oveI
t which the commodities are conveyed
and | submit a definite specific meth cd
one that we have tried and fount
e profitable, the conveying of mailablt
! matter, including parcel post, at regu
, lar rates.
l.. There are in operation to-day trans
portat'on facilities in daily operation
5 on through or connecting highway.
: from Portland. Me, to Richmond, We
' from New York City to Chicago: from
) indianapolis to Montgomery, Ala, ane
with IN appropriation of 100000 the
postage revenues on these highways
and adjacent roads leading to the same
!; now average over $2,00O,OOO per annum
"Second-For a highway supported
I by the Federal government and ths
states and local subdivisions thereof
These highways should be known a:
feeder highways and located near trunl
lines or national highways within pro
ducing territory.
, "Ihlrd- For highway supported By
state. county or township. This thir(
definite suggestion includes the con
: struction and maintenance of suppl,
! roads to the feeder roads that finally
connect with the national trunk line
a roads.
E "The benefits of the adoption of such
5 a system of highway construction car
|, be extended to include the cost of liv
ing, for through the complete organiza
S tion Of system of transportation ia
G cllltles covering improved roads com
modify prices that have to-day reached
e exhorbtant figures can be Influenced
s to considerable extent.
l I'VE found that on October %. 1918
6 fresh eggs We're selling in the city O.
I Newark. N. j., at 81 a dozen, when
tremendous supply was available a
e New Holland, Penn, distance of one
. hundred miles from Newark, at so cent.
a dozen. With q postal rate of abou
three cents dozen, we could have pos
sibly delivered this prime food prod
uct in that city at from 25 to 80 cent
q dozen less than the price the citi
zens were paying"
Snow Removal From Trunk HIGHWAYS
: Charles J. Bennett, Highway Com
missioner of Connecticut, stated tha
} ''the establishment of rural routes AM
the utilization of trucks and passenge
= motors command the attention O
r highway engineers, and the snow re
moval problem becomes vital issue