Evening journal., 1918-06-21
FRIDAY. JUNE II, 1918.
BUILD ROADS TO STAND Up UNDER TWENTIETH
GENTRY STRESS


- H. JOHNSON has an article IN the American Motorst
n. for June IN which he treats OF the neglect OF
American highways He asserts that such neglect is
delaying the nations program and pays his respects
10 the bad condition OF the Delaware roads His con
cuson Is that the time for real remedial road action
here. and that should embrace all sections Of the
United states in which the highways are not in proper
condition. He ssys in part.
Wake up America
II bands Of armed men IN the employ Of Germany
were rowing the main highways Of the country, and
holding up for hours at time motor trucks loaded
with supplies and food supplies would there not De
q furorel The President would send special message
10 Congress; Congress would Immediately enact some
emergency legislation and the entire resources OF the
country would be pledged TO suppression OF such out
RACES What are the Trucks loaded with food and
munitions in transit between principal cities are
being held up every day FOR hours at time and are be-
ing seriously damaged. These hold-ups however are
PAUSED by General Neglect Although the disastrous re
suits TO the program are the same no one IN hs
authority at all concerned and each day cond
tlons grow and holdups increase IN number and
in duration.
and Philadelphia running through most important
shipbuding and making section. Is in disgrace
fu condition. particularly that portion Of the highway
which lies within the state Of Delaware The Maryland
portion OF the highway in fairly good condition but
few motor trucks make the trip between Baltimore
and Philadelphia without being held up somewhere IN
Delaware either by being mired or by breaking some
part have recently made two trips over this road
and each time have twenty or thirty trucks broken
running north and south through the State
Delaware roads OF two general classes-rst roads
which become 50 soft every time It rains that motor
trucks sink in 70 their axles and secondly old macadam
rosds which rough and so full Of holes that no
vehicle pass them without receiving terrific
shaking up The most dscouragng phase Of the stua-
ton is that only in one very limited sections are
there any signs OF any intention TO repair the roads
Let me give typical Illustration OF the way these
disgraceful road conditions affect preparations
On one OF our recent trips, we saw a hve-ton truck
which had become hopeessly mired at one side OF the
road This truck had turned toward the side Of the road
to allow another truck TO 80 by and the side OF the road
ad caved n allowing the truck TO slip into the ditch
at the side Of the road This truck was loaded wth
cylinders Of acteylsne gas for welding purposes which
had been sent from plant In Maryland on hurry
call" to a shipbuiding plant near Philadelphia When
we saw the truck 10 had been there eighteen hours.
There is no doubt that In the meantime important op
erations in the shpyard being held up owing to
the nonrecept Of the acetyene tanks When this acc
dent happened it had not raned for nearly week,
Imagine what the conditions after heavy rain fall
few days ago read that motor trucks were racing
from Baltimore carrying to New York some refrsera-
ing machinery replace machinery which had been de-
stroyed by fire a great cold storage plant which was
ned with perishsble food for our army am very Ger
tain that the machinery did not reach New York at the
time It was expected and quite probably not until all
the food in the warehouse had spoiled.
It was bad enough in times Of peace that the main
highways connecting principal seaboard cities should
have been in poor condition To put the mildly, It
is certainly "svng aid and comfort TO the enemy that
IN time OF war one Of our most important inter-city
highways should be allowed to become almost impossible
for motor trucks.
What our public authorities doing TO remedy these
conditions9 Almost the only onlcial announcement /
have seen In reference TO highways the order
Issued last fall placing roadbuildng material road
building machinery in the non-essental with pianos
and talking machines. The words highway improve
ments" seldom heard in Congress or in executive
circles in Washington.
While the State Of Delaware probably has the worst
highway system in the country, judged from the point
Of view OF the importance Of good roads a part OF
the war program this State by no the only Of
fender. That part Of the Lincoln highway which goes
through New Jersey is in many sections in a wretched
condition and is rapidly growing worse.
In previous articles, have pointed out how the state
Of Pennsylvania has neglected its road system between
Beaver Falls and the Ohio line and have also pointed
out how New York State has never thought it worth
while build good road from Buffalo to the Penn
sylvana State line.
The for the condition of the highways given
m each locality where the roads In bad condition.
that motor trucks are breaking down the roads" The
various highway departments TO regard this the
last word the subject except that in New York
State the highway commission had the happily idea Of
meeting the situation by attempting bar heavy trucks
from The public highways This latter legislative pro-
posal almost became law and undoubtedly would have
done had it not been for the vigilance OF the several
dealers and motor truck organizations.
To say that the roads bad because motor trucks
hsve been passing them simply confession that