Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-09
Highway Needs Recognized
In Reversal of Govt. Program

The complete reversal Of the gov-+
ernment program with regard to
transportat!ng stone, sand, gravel
and ohter road materials In open-top
freight cars IL one OF the best In
dlcationa that has come from Wash
ington In several months that the
government departments are recog-
nizing tho necessity OF we'll main
tained system Of highways Sunder
war conditions, says AutomotiVe
Industries
The present ruling of the railroad
war board, permitting coal, coke and
ore cars on return loads to carry
road building material. will not only
re!nyigorate the road building pro-
gram, but should result In perhaps
| 40 per cent of the demand for road
materials being satisfied. This re-
turn-load service will not greatly In
terfere with the transportation OF
coal coke and ore. This fact was
established by the experience OF the
| fuel administration last winter when
| 1t stopped the use Of coal cars on
return loads for transporting autos
nj obiles The fuel administration ad-
mitted that there was very little
| gained by this policy.
This first intimation from Wash
Ilngton Of a reconsideration OF It's at
tit,ide toward road-building last fall
augurs well for a more vigorous
road building program in the near
future. The necessity OF driving war
trucks overland from factory to sea
port; the establishment Of return
load bureaus; the necessity for long
distance inter-city haulage. the ne
cesslty for rural express systems and
the necessity for using motor trucks
for clearing railroad terminals has
undoubtedly convinced the govern
ment that the railroads must be
supplemented by comprehensive
motor truck system In order that
transportation may be adequately
cared for.
Railroads losing Capacity.
Today the railroads have not the
capacity to care for our national
transportation. and II they had such
capacity and had possessed 1t dur
Ing the past year there would be no
necessity for q shortage of steel. a
shortage Of coal, or the curtaiiment
OF industries, which has been SO
damaging during the past year.
The railroad system must be aug
mented by a motor truck system en-
braclng as II should qualifications to
meet all requirements, What is
needed today are moro locomotives,
more railroad cars and more motor
trucks with tho increased trans
portatlon so obtained II would be
| gN.f
steel production where there would
not only he enough steel for all gov
ernment requirements but for indus
tries as well.
II tho government through it's war
Industries board would provide a
budget showing It's requirements ot
various kinds of steel for the com
ing year 40 that the steel manufac-
turers could make a definite survey
OF the field ana set their plans for
a continuous drive on steel produc-
ton. great stability and added con-
fidence would be given to many in
dustries that have had an unfortun-
ately yacllatinE experience during
the last ten months The attitude OF
the government on road materials
suggests that the different depart
ments are obtaining more correct
view Of what products arc yitally
necessary today,
what contrast there iS In classl-
fyIng road materials along with coal,
coke and ore, although In second
ary degree, with the attitude OF last
fall when these materials were
olassed with talking machines, ma
terial for moving pictures and furnl-
ture. The entire country should be
encouraged at this now chapter in
highway maintenance