Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-10-06

.''hNtS anu tne world. Ine gray
haired veterans OF the civil war have
witnessed tho advent OF the sewing
machine, deep sea cables, suspension
bridges steam threshing machines
and tractors, electric street railways,
the telephone, dictaDhone. and kim
hred 9voicC Conveyors, moving pic
lures, wireless telegraphy. pneumatic
transportation, typewriters. compto-
meters. wonderful printing presses,
and newspaper folders, linotype and
ype-cdStlng machines, steam fire
engines, automobiles, flying ma
chincs, Stecl clad ships. cement ships,
submarine vessels, breech loading
guns, machine guns, fixed ammu-
nItlon, cannon of immense Calihre
ana range, the commercial pToduc-
uon or mineral oils and Dy-prOduCts;
engines and vessels propelled by like
fuels, gasoline and electrical engines
ana motors, great packing houses
have supplanted the individual
slaughter house and now utilize all
hut the squeal OF pig; We have
great steam shOvcls and dredgers. ny.
draulic eXcavators, all sorts of com
pressed air machines. artificial ice.
steam heating, vacuum cleaners and
thousands of minor inventions, To say
nothing OF the progress in medicine,
surgery, chemistry, and other arts
and science.
Better Highways Demanded.
And yet, and now. we have but
pegun the development Of the means
or Transporting the people and their
products in the cheapest, speediest
and most scientific and economical
way. Whatever may he ''in the air"
In the future, people will always want
TO travel on good old Mother Earth"
They Will want to keep out OF the
mud; they will want good. well sur
faced, well drained, low grade, and
well kept highways for travel and for
marketing the output OF the farm
and the mine, in fact, II may well be
considered that the saving in time.
wear and waste which can be at
tanned by good roads may represent
all the net dividends that shall ace
crue from our toll and brain, much
perhaps, as the by-products of our
packers represent in a large degree
their net profits SO also II by i'm
proved and perfect highways ten
tons may be moved in less time and
by the same energy heretofore eX-
pended on one.
At this day, with thousands Of
good roads advocates. mum berless
associations and organized state
highways departments. it seems
superfluous and n waste OF words TO
enter into any argument as to the
need and profit OF good roads. The
practical and overmastering question
now is, what can we do best to win
the war: what roads shall he built.
what reconstructed, what repaired;
in fact, the subject Is utilitarian in
the largest degree. How shall we
secure the best results, at the least
cost. in the least time, and yet Of
lasting benefit. This Is an age OF
big thought, wide vision, startling
and daring undertaking, with an
overpowering determination to win.
that will not he denied at whatever
cost or whatever deprivation. II
calls for not only the highest pro-
ductlon but the lowest consumption
in non essentials. This can only OBJ
tain where there is rigid supervis-
ion and there must he a central
power to make the final decision
and to say what may and what may
not be done. The initial road de-
partments of government estab-
lished by statute and ordinances are
county boards. while the state de-
partment OF highways has the su-
pervision OF all matters relating to
state roads and highways, includ-
ing nearly all bridges and culverts,
U. S. Highways Council.
Since war was declared there has
been organized the United States
highways council. which working In
conjunction with the office OF pubic
roads of the department Of aGri-
culture and the United states rail
road administration, tho fuel ad-
ministration and the state highways
department has. practically, final
I'll pervision during the war or all
highway, street, culvcrt, and bridge
construction, reconstruction, and
maintenance involving the issuance
OF bonds. the use OF rail or water
TRANSFORMATION, the use OF coal or
oil as fuel. the use Of cement. brick,
asphalt. oil tar, or crushed stone.
or steel, (also sand and gravel where
shortage exists) as highway ma
terial. These undertakings must be
first submitted for approval to the
United States highway council
through the state department OF
highways. No manufacturer Will
furnish any road building material
conjunction with the United States
until the project has been approved
by the United States highway
council SO there you are.
The council will give trst con-
sIderation to maintenance, with a
view to conserving all the highways
already completed II possible. Re
construction will be favorably con-
sidered by the council only where
II is clearly established that main
tenance is no longer possible eX-
cept at ,prohbitive cost.
As to how construction, every
thing will be subordinated to war
necessities in the following relative
order Of Importance, viz;
/. Highways and streets OF mill
tary value.
z. Highways and streets OF ma
tional economic value.
3, Unfinished contracts involving
contractual obligations incurred
prior to April 5, 1918, when bond
issue is involved which may not be
disturbed without serious conse-
quences.
4. Streets and highways which,
although not OF national economic
importance. are OF such extreme To-
cal importance the construction OF
which has progressed to such point
as 10 cause serious hardships II thelr
construction or completion IS post
poned.
A highway OF military value, as
defined by the council in bulletin NO.
1. Is one used regularly for transpor-
H. L., 81