Evening journal., 1918-06-10
SAW rnE moan rolNpA1loNs.

rrNLEss the Federal state and local governments take
~ immediate steps 10 the foundations Of the roads
OF the country most OF the highways being used
for military purposes win be ruined and longer can
be used for the motor truck trains which being sent
over them.
This was pointed out In striking fashion today by
former Governor John X Tener. Of Pennsylvania He
declares military necessity for the various response
Bile authorities to protect these roads by proper
facing Certainly Deawareans appreciate the truth Of
that statement
we must preserve the roads Of the country and
especially we their foundations II the United
States TO do It's full duty in the and n the Gov
to protect the commerce and the industries
of the country which supplying the needs Of
the bsttleronts well the taxes OF the Gov
ernment and the necessities Of the men, women and
children. who keeping the wheels going at home"
Mr.. Tener says. The Federal Government the manu-
the farmer for months have been depending
the highways for the transportation Of enormous
amounts OF materials and supplies by motor trucks.
miles Of highways VIII become useless unless the
surfacng Of these roads Is encouraged that the foun
dsons may be saved In road construction the principal
cost is in the foundations The top or road surface.
naturally the st to give way break and finally grind
up and disappear leaving the foundations exposed and
ns1t in the line Of destruction"
He asserts that foundations costing hundreds OF mil
lions Of dollars now in danger Of being ruined for
ever when they could be saved by proper resurfacing
but this resurfaons should be done at else the
costly foundation work win have TO be done all over
again IN order make the highways available for trao
which depends much upon them. In some States and
localities, he is informed there disposition to delay
road work until after the the theory that the
men and materials needed elsewhere in the
work This is grave mistake which should be
rected at once. Nowhere is II imperative that
such correction be made than right here in Delaware
Without the highways the business OF the country
would be crippled" the former governor says. "The
roads must be both for purposes and for
the preservation Of the industries upon which the coun
trys revenues depend well for the living neoess
ties Of those who doing their fun share by keeping
the home fires burning. To preserve the highways we
must the foundations. Makeshift surfacing will
crumble in few months and will have TO be done all
again To neglect surfacing viii impose the abso-
Lutte necessity for reconsruotng thousands miles Of
foundations which, II properly surfaced now would mean
the saving OF hundreds Of millions Of dollars now in
danger Of being thrown away by foolish policy Of saw
Ing at the spigot and wasting at the bung.
by all means let the proper authorities sped Up N
work OF resurfacng the highways so the foundations
may be saved. This cannot be made too emphatic be-
cause is matter that will become vital the
work Of the war and the life of the nation
Those who have charge Of the Delaware roads will
ind food for thought in the above utterances.