Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-09-21
ROAD BUILDING
MAY BE CHECKED
National Restrictions Upset
Plans of State For High
way improvements

State Highway Commissioner ].
Denny O'Neil in a statement issued
to-day announced that unless the
National Highways Council recedes
from it's present position, road con-
struction in Pennsylvania will prac-
tically cease until after the war
There are sixty-four roads now un-
der construction in Pennsylvania.
Mr.. O'Neil in his statement says:
The highways council has disap-
proved, or taken no final action on
all except nine. This means that
work must stop, as no material of
any Kind can be secured, unless the
highways council approves the same.
The Importance of the roads under
construction can be gauged from the
fact that local authorities are pay
ing one-half the cost.
The Highway Department is of
the opinion that the National High
way Council has failed to realize the
importance of road work in Penn
sylvania and the great hardship that
will be imposed upon the local COM
munities by leaving the roads in an
unfinished condition.
George S. Oliver, of Pittsburgh,
regional director of district number
five, War Industries Board, has ap-
proved and requested the construc-
ton of all roads located in his dis
trict, and he has arranged for a
hearing in Washington next week,
to be attended by himself and Com
missioner O'Neil, to try to have the
action of the Washington authori-
ties modified, so that the roads now
under construction, particularly
those which have large percentage
of the material on the ground, Will
receive their approval
No one can question the willing
ness of Pennsylvania to cooperate
with the Washington authorities.
Pennsylvania is doing her full share
and Will continue to do so, but good
roads are not only essential and nee
essary as a war measure, but they
are a vital economic necessity, par
ticularly in great industrial, manu-
featuring and mining state like
Pennsylvania. This was demon
strated last winter when many of
the large industries of the state were
seriously handicapped, only being
able to operate by reason of their
ability to transport their coal from
the mines and various other sup
plies over the highways of our state,
in trucks. Manufacturers and whole
sale dealers in Pittsburgh, Philadel-
phia and other large centers now
deliver their merchandise by trucks
over the highways within a radius
of forty and fifty miles. A great ma
jority of all the army trucks pass
through Pennsylvania.
Last winter, Notwithstanding the
fact that it was one of the most Sc
we're on record, the Lincoln highway
was kept open and a continuous
stream of army trucks, loaded with
munitions and supplies, passed
through the state to the seaboard,
and those trucks and supplies now
are being used on the battletields. of
France. Approximately two and
one-half million dollars has been
spent by the State Highway Depart
ment during the past six months in
rebuilding and repairing roads used
by army trucks and by manufactur-
ers engaged in war work. Over six
hundred thousand dollars have been
spent upon the Lincoln highway, and
this road now is in good condition
and will be kept open during the
present winter. Snow fences are
now being erected; additional snow
plows placed along the road, and
snow gangs being organized.
THE State Highway Department
has made a study and is ready to
present evidence that the greater
percentage of the men on road con-
struction are men who are unfit for
army service and for work in muni-
ton factories"