Evening journal., 1918-12-31
HOW GOOD ROADS
ARE AID TO PEACE
Have Vital Effect on Ma
tons Manufacturing and
Building Activities
BY G. 4. kssEL.

boards and committees, found It nee:
essary for certain manufacturers to Z
turn their facilities and equipment over
TO the manufacturer Of supplies neces- Z
sary for the army and navy. /
The next big move by these same |:
boards was to put a ban on all build l
ing projects and road equipments, a.
well as stopping work on those that had
been started. This was necessary to
release lab r and materials for essential 1
work to carry the war to a successful
conclusion. Today we see the wisdom OF
these moves, but now that the war is
over 10 will soon become apparent that
the lack Of good roads is going 10 Nc
burden in getting back TO a peace time
production basis as quickly as neces-
sity warrants.
Two of the country's leading indus
tries that will feel the lack Of gooaS
roads the most and the quickest are
those % manufacturing and building.
Let US take up the former first:
To maintain the production necessary
to meet the reconstruction demands
abroad, material and supplies must be
delivered on a definite schedule. There
must be no interruption, otherwise
production will be delayed.
That our roads, highways and byways
will have 10 stand up under two OF
three times the amount of traffic is sp-
parent when our factories, industries,
mercantile institutions and even retail
ers are considered in regard to thei-
stocks on hand.
The day we entered the war, the Gus
tomary channels through which w. Sc
cured our raw materials, supplies,
goods, etc, were at first interrupted.
Shipments we had ordered weeks and
months ahead were tied up because It
was more important 20 move the sup
plies and equipment needed by the army
than those for home consumption.
Therefore, we had to draw on our re-
serve supply which we had stored eth
er within our factories or in ware
houses nearby.
Later on, the nations industries and
manufacturers began 10 turn their
equipment over to the manufacturer OF
government goods. This, to a great ex-
tent, made up the deficit in our supply
OF raw materials, because that part OF
our equipment that was being turned
10 government work was kept busy on
materials supplied by the government;
hence the draft on the manufacturers
reserve stock was lightened. BY the
time the manufacturers entire equip
ment was being devoted TO govern
ment work, their stock Of raw material
for commercial work was practically
exhausted.
Now with indications that the gov
ernment viii gradually relieve the
manufacturer from government work
the question Of getting the necessary
supplies and raw material for CONNER
cial work is an important one In fac,,
it will soon be one OF the vital PROC
lens, and with the railroads being used
to maintain our armies abroad, as well
as the transportation Of finished goods
for reconstruction purposes overseas, 10
will undoubtedly be left TO the motor
truck 10 keep our industries, factories,
mercantile institutions and dealers sup
Piled with materials and goods neces-
sary TO get back on a peace time
basis.
Here is where the States with good
roads are going to forge ahead OF those
communities with bad roads, and like
wise 1t win be the industries in The
former who will have the bulge on
those in the latter.
1t will soon be a question OF not
merely the scarcity Of available ma
terials, but a scarcity Of good routes
over which they can be haIled 10
4 the factories.
In building highways. you are insur-
ing reliable and economical transporta-
tion You are eliminating excessive
I freight rates. avoiding expensive de-
| lays and stopping high motortrucx de-
preciation-all three Of which are bis
! factors that enter into the cost OF do
ing business.
In every city and town, building pro-
iecls that have been held up by the war
/ will soon be rushed 10 completion. EX-
penditures Of hundreds Of millions OF
dollars will be made, providing empio.f-
ment for not only the returning sol
diers, but men released by the factor
les formerly engaged in. government
work. In the cities, prominent Office
and government buildings, as well %
municipal improvements OF every char.
actee and description will make 70 nee
I essary for building materials and equip
ment TO be brought into the city. This
means that the motoriruck will hay.
/ 10 take care Of big share OF this
/ transportation, and IL is virtually nee.
essary that this work is not delayed ir
any way
Here is where poor roads are goins
to interfere with progress. Material!
| for such buildings will have to be haul
ed by motor trucks from distant points
and there Will be hui'ireds OF instance!
where this will prove necessary In or
/ der to hurry up construction or con-.
plete buildings that wcrs halted whel
/ the building ban was plt on.
The same is true Of the lack -.
houses, flats and apartments, for which
I there has been created an enormous dc.
mand-a demand that makes it imposl
sible for contractors to wait until tln
railroads have againstoe en- put on nUr
NAL schedules. And here again, 10 WI
be up TO motor trucks TO transport
! these materials.
In the building and construction flelt
alone it is going to cost taxpayers mih
lions Of dollars ir these materials ra,l
to be transported over poor .'oads, be
cause the depreciation OF motor trucks
/ the lack Of speed while negotiating pool
roads, as well as the loss OF time in get
ting materials TO the WOrkmen. wal
boost up the cost Of construction NOR,
/ than the average layman realizes. Ant
it win be the same way with thosl
property owners who are building new
residences, apartment houses, etc. rs.
Inmates that were made before the wa.
as to cost OF material, labor, Transports