The Washington herald., 1918-07-10
GOOD ROADS TO
MARK new ERA
Highway Developmen en'
Comes Through Gasoline
Use, Says Holland.

bustion engine commercially prac-
ticabIe so that now this apparatus
Is utilized for aircraft and also for
automobiles. The automobile In
time entailed the construction OF
good roads. At first these improve
ed highways were so laid as to en-
courage pleasure seeking tourists.
But with the advent of the war and
the railroad congestion. as we'll as
the wonderfully enlarged use OF the
auto truck and the delivery wagon
for business purposes. 1t became
necessary to seek highway con-
struction of a kind that would be
suitable for the automobile. and es-
pecially heavy automobile traf1c.
for roads of this kind became a war
and business necessity.
Already in some parts Of the coun-
I try the auto truck Is utilized in
constantly increasing amount for
the transportation of merchandise.
supplementing railway freight and
express service. There are for in
stance several auto truck express
ses. which in the afternoon receive
merchandise, either in New York or
Philadelphia, and then by travel
ng all night reach their destination
early the next morning. Since mu-
milton manufactures were establish
ed in New England and especially
in Connecticut. the auto truck has
chiefly been employed for the trans
. portatfon of almost all the ammuni-
ton to New York.
Big Highways Planned.
A few weeks ago published reports
of the movement OF auto trucks from
Detroit to New York and to Washing
ton attracted wide attention. and one
of the most brilliant of the exploits of
The auto truck was that accomplished
under the direction of Charles M
kchwab when the shipbuilding plant
at Washington, or its headquarters
there. was transferred to Philadelphia
by auto truck in a very short time.
Ultimately there are to be several
transcontinental highways constructed
in the best manner and also other
highways paralleling lines of longi-
tude. reaching from the largercities of
the North to the lower Atlantic or to
the Gulf ports
MANY activities which have relation
to carrying on the war are of such
magnitude and Importance as to con-
centrate the attention of the public
that comparatively little attention has
been paid to the assistance which Con-
gress has given by large appropria-
tons of money for the construction OF
highways suitable for automobiles and
auto trucks. Congress enacted a law
exactly two years ago providing for
the corporation of .he Federal gov
ernment and all the States of the
Union in highway road building. The
responsibility for carrying out this
statute so far as the government is
concerned was placed upon the Secre-
tary of Agriculture and the various
State highway associations.
As much as 81, 90, 900 was first ap-
propriated by Congress for this serv-
ice. although all the money was not
to be drawn upon at once, but instead
in yearly instalments. Today the Sec
retary Of Agriculture estimates that
S,y reason of this Federal aid. at least
q. 600 miles of excellent highways will
be completed in a short time and be
well kept up. For 1t was recognized
that unless proper maintenance were
provided for. it would be a waste Of
money to build good highways since
heavy trucking in spite OF care tends
to impair these roads
As Ii Is With the Railroads.
MS, however, uOe5 not OlIIeF ITOIn
railroad operation. Even the best steel
rails must in time be replaced and
roadbeds. as well a ties, must be kept
in good condition
The appropriation of s75O00OOO is to
be apportioned among the various
States, the amount to be distributed
TO each State being determined by its
population, area and the mileage OF
Its rural delivery routes.
Upon this basis of apportionment
almost exactly 5000 was allotted to
Texas. In that State there is especial
need Of good roads. Furthermore. its
area Is the largest Of any of the States
Of the Union. The Secretary of Agri-
culture allotted nearly as much to
New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois.
On the other hand, what seems to be
a very small allotment is made to
Delaware, only 5000. And Rhode Is
land Is to receive only 81. 900
Delaware has one excellent improved
highway which represents individual
benefaction. Whatever the amount
may be Of the governments appor-
tionment Of SO. 900 to any State in
the first year OF the apportionment. II
this be multiplied by two then. or by
three. and then up to i've successive
mathematical calculations. the first
being made as of January, 1917, then
every State in the Union may figure
accurately upon what 1t IL to receive
each year during the five years Of
highway building encouraged and sup
ported in part by the government.
1t remained for California to gain
the prestige due to recognition by the
Secretary of Agriculture of the fact
that California was the first State to