The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-12
WE MUST HAVE ROADS.

Each passing hour finds a new
committee organized at Washington
for the purpose of regulating, supervis-
ing or restricting some activity that has
n bearing on the conduct of the war.
The efficient work of some of these
committees has been a marked credit
to the judgment of their membership,
but in other instances the results have
fl lied to measure up to constructive
standards.
Recently an advisory committee to
t. capital committee of the federal
reserve board was named. This latter
tody will pass upon all bond issues for
highway improvements and it is re-
rortc it will refuse to sanction those
roads which do not assist III the move
rent troops or war supplies. The
intention is to avoid the issuance of a
large number of bonds which will
compete with the government for
capital, and which will offer higher
rates of interest to the investor. The
Intention is good. Capital should be
cunsecrated to war use But there is
a serious danger, says the Iron Trade
Review, if the Interpretation of the
powers of this committee is made SC
broad as to obstruct the construction
CT all save strictly military roads and
streets. Transportation is vital. The
winters bitter lesson is still pound
ing this fact upon public attention
We must have transportation or every
element of production both agricul-
tur@' and commercial is useless.
During the crisis in railroad affairs
VIXEN the vital elements of industr,
were tangled at the transportation
centers or piled high at the shippine
points awaiting cars, the council Of
national defense called upon the motor
trucking facilities of the country tc
aid in handling all classes of material,
over hauls not exceeding 200 miles
An appeal was made to state and ma
tionai road com missions to lend theil
energies in providing roads for thi.
freight relief work. The response wa.
instant and every effort was made t.
speed up necessary road and stree
construction. Encoura cement wa,
Given to motor truck freighting il
many states. Among others Connect
eli organized a bureau with branche,
in the principal cities to handle tn,
details of return loads and to arrans,
routes for regular truck schedules.
The capital issues advisory commit
tee has not progressed far enough il
its activities to warrant an opinion a.
/ t. its policies, but a source of DANCE
EXISTS which should be avoided at an,
cost. Care must be taken that reaIl,
recessaIy and useful road work be no
hampered.
TIL average distance which ear,
solder sent abroad is transported ha
been stated t, be 1900 miles. Mimi
t'"ns' food and supplies will probabl,
average in the raw or finished state ;
distance equally as great. Thi
enormous ton-mileage must be carrie,
by the railroads under impending con
dIuons of restricted and diminishin,
labor supply. The result is that otbe
transportation agencies, motor trucl
freighting in particular, must be de
veloped quickly and thoroly to TAX
care of the light and short bau1 bur
den This development must he nre
ceded by road construction and roa,
maintenance, which it will reouir
bond issues to finance. Careful dis
crir nation must be exercised h
those who have power to regulat
these matters in order to avoi
Eampering the nations best interest
es well as genuine public advance
IA Mt.
Road construction, PARTICULAR
t, unk line improvement, for which tn
need is clearly shown, should be en-
lcoIraged in every possible way