Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1919-06-27

$. Department of Agricultural
proved highways means more now be-
cause Of the extensive use of motor
trucks in hauling products from the
farm to the railroad station or direct
to the city markets.
Trucks are not only replacing
horse transportation but in many
cases they are supplementing and
even doing the work of railroads. In
fact. motor trucks offer a solution OF
modern transportation problems, but
roads built only for horse-drawn We
hicles or light automobiles will break
down under heavy motor traffic.
Maintenance of thousands of miles
of roads so that the enormous gov
eminent and commercial truck traf-
fic of the past two years could move
has taxed the abilities and called
forth every energy and plan on the
part of highway officials. In many
states officials found themeesvls with
out sufficient funds to handle proper
~ the repair and rebuilding work nee
essary. Nearly all of them had to
struggle under the handicap of an In
sufficient labor supply, and all had to
meet the increased cost of labor and
material.
Only a few states were unaffected
by the restrictions on the supply and
transportation of materials which had
to be brought from distance. None
escaped the difficulties which followed
the great and rapid increase in traffic
at this country's entrance into the
war. From New England to the Pa
cl1ic coast new demands were made
upon the highways, and unusual con-
ditions developed everywhere in
maintenance and construction. In
several states high type roads. which
had originally been constructed with
out sufficient foundation to meet the
new demands, had to be rebuilt, and
part of THIS construction work was
carried on while the heavy traff1c was
kept moving. ~
The extensive use of motor trucks
for transportation during war time
has emphasized the possibilities of
well-built roads as a means of mar
keting farm and other products. Solv-
ing road problems when there was q
constant procession of heavily loaded
trucks travelling over them has been
q great lesson to road officials, which
will be put to good use in peace time.
80 The federal aid road-building pro.
gram for this year is the>most stupen-
dous in the history of the world. The
expenditures for road construction
for the year are likely to reach $780,
100000. Plans have been made for
the construction of continuous high
way systems, the states through which
the highways are to pass cooperating
with each other as never before. I'M
proved roads will not terminate at
state lines. but will run from one
large marketing center to another.
More than $45,OOO.00O worth of
motor trucks. to be used in road con-
struction work, will be distributed by
the secretary of agriculture through
the bureau of public roads to the state
highway departments. These trucks,
about 10000 in number. have been
declared surplus by the war depart.
ment. and all that the states must dc
to acquire them is to pay the loading
and freight charges.
The trucks range in capacity from
two to five tons. 1900 Of them are
new. and all are declared to be in
serviceable condition. They will be
apportioned to the states only puon
request of the state highway depart.
fnents on the basis of a request re.
ceived from the respective states with
the apportionment provided in the
federal aid law approved in 1916
The requirements of the law are such
that none of the trucks will be dis
tributed to counties or individuals.
Further interest in the NATIONWIDE
need for good roads is shown by the
fact that shortly before the last ses.
sion of congress adjourned that body
made an extra appropriation Of $780,.
900, 900 in the postoffice appropriation
bill to meet the federal part OF the
bodybuilding program. This is the