Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-23
OPPORTUNITY At HAND
TO GET GOOD HIGHWAYS
Motor Truck Transportation War
Necessity, anu It's Dependent
Upon Good Roads.
VIRGINIA MAY GET BLESSING
Uncle Sam Calls for Better Rural
Transportation Facilities, and Will
Help Make the Highways to Bear
It-Golden Opportunity.

The highways transportation COM
mittee OF the Council OF National De-
Tense has just issued hullction No. >,
| In which the establishment OF rural
motor express lines in the interest Of
the conservation OF food and man
power. as we'll as the furnishing Of
regular. convenient and economic
transport atiun to the rural sections OF
the country is urged The necessity
OF the development OF this transpor-
tation advantage 20 the country Is
emphasized. and suggestions on how
and where to organize and operate rural
express lines TO give the greatest ser
vice TO the community covered are
offered in extenso.
MOTOR TRAFFIC ENTIRELY
DEPENDENT on GOOD ROADS
The Manufacturers Record. in re-
viewing bulletin No. Q. takes advantage
Of tho opportunity to remind the Coun-
Gil of National Defense and the gov
eminent that the motor truck is alb
solutely dependent on good roads, and
goes on to say:
"Al the urging and commendation
Of motor truck usage by all the gov
erumcnt departments avail nothing &c
the highways are unimproved. or II
through lack of repairs the roads he
come impossible. In the face of tho
fact that this country must increase
its transportation facilities and OF the
recognition that the motor truck is
vital factor In experimenting rail
transportation. In conserving time
labor and food. the government for
time emharEoed highway materials and
discouraged road construction and
maintenance. and even to-day ham
pers road work by car restrictions and
increased freight rates that make som.
highway materials prohibitivc on nc-
count OF cost. when ii ought to no
urging and aiding in the Improvement
OF highways and maintenance OF those
Quilt that the motor truck be given a
foundation on which ii can operate NOT
only efficiently. but to operate at all.
Improved highways all over the
country. and especially those that have
borne the burden OF through traffic
for the government. are badly In need
Of repar and the government should
do all in its power to hasten the work
~ reconstruction before wear utterly
destroys them"
WHY THE TRUCK
MUST COME INTO USE
But. going back to bulletin No. ..
in reviewing the need for additional
transportation facilities the Council OF
National Defense states that tho trans
Portation burden of the railways and
highways of the country has been ire
mendouslv increased. by the war, and
II is absolutely necessary to utilize our
r..
tend the use Of highways by the more
efficient use Of motor vehicls or tor
minals where congestion OF traffic is
likely ~ occur. The motor truck can
helr 'he railroad by reducing the short
haul load. and also act as feeder
line in sections far removed from mar
ket.
Approval OF the more extensive use
Of motor trucks has been given by
tho United States food administration
through Mr.. Hoover when he said:
The development Of the rural motor
express idea. In my opinion. is in tho
line Of progress and should rebound to
the benefit OF the producer. the con-
suuIer and the railroads This means
~ transportation should facilitate de-
livery. conserve labor. conserve food
tblIs 'iNi SlOuIN erect 0ellVery or 1904
in better condition"
VIRGINIA HAS THE OPPORTUNITY
OF a LIFETIME
The United States Department OF La
Dor also urges the adoption OF the
motor truck transports ton facilities
AMI the Department of Agriculture is
investigating the efficiency of motor
truck transportation In the marketing
Of farm produce.
Now is undoubtedly the time to get
good roads all over Virginia. In no
state in the Union does the govern
mcnt need them more and the govern
rncnt VIII undoubtedly help to make
them II the people will do their par:
Good roads made after the plans 81
The government, will be lasting. AMI
II is now In the mower of Virginia 10