The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-21
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM ALTON
BUREAU
FREDERIC J. HAsKnI. DsrecssE.
waahtngtsa. u. @
A NEW ERA IN ROAD BUILDING.
WAahingtsa. d @

Washington, d. c., July 1S.-One
of the most colossal roadbuilding pro-
grams ever undertaken in any coun-
try is to be carried out in the United
States during the next three years. 1t
is estimated that by 1921 close to a
billion dollars will have been spent for
good roads in this country. OF this
huge sum, $275, 900, 600 has been APP
propriated by congress as federal aid
in road construction.
In addition to giving financial as
sistance the federal government is also
encouraging the improvement OF high
ways by distributing to the various
states some 10000 motor trucks used
by the army during the war. These
trucks are to be turned over to the
highway commissioners of the states,
and are to be used only for road build
ing purposes.
For more than a century-that is
UP to 1916-the federal government
did practically nothing to aid or abet
in developing improving highways.
In 1915 congress voted $75,00O,00O for
federal highway aid on the fifty-fifty
basis with the states. but on account OF
the war much of the road work con-
templated at that time was held in
allegiance Now there is a revival of
interest on the part of the national
government in better roads, which
finds expression thru the medium of
the bureau of public roads;
The first and only national highway
constructed by the government was
the old, historic Cumberland road.
The work on that turnpike was begun
under President jefferson and con-
tinued under Monroe. Beginning at
Cumberland, Md, the road ran thru
Maryland, Pennsylvania, what is now
West Virginia, Ohio. Indiana and Illi-
nois. st. Louis was the objective
point, but railroads came into use be-
fore the completion of the project and
the road stopped short somewhere in
Illinois. The old Cumberland road
was to have been used to open up
traffic between the east and west, and
it was planned in such a way as to
have direct communication with the
Atlantic ocean. The scheme was to
use the stage coach for transportation
from western points to Cumberland,
then the Chesapeake {, Ohio canal,
which is still in operation, from Cum
berland to Washington, connecting
with the Potomac river to the ocean.
So does it appear that the unfolding
of time quite upset this deliberately
worked out government project.
Altho the Cumberland train fell into
disuse for a time after railroads be-
gan to link up the east with the west,
the greater portion of it has been i'm
proved within recent years by the
various states thru which it runs.
Many of the old pioneers who went
west in the early part of the nine
teenth century travelled by stage coach
over this early ribbon of good roads.
The need of good roads is becoming
more and more obvious with the in
crease in the use of motor vehicles.
Ten years ago the highways of this
country were subjected to traffic
scarcely different from that which
they had borne in Revolutionary days.
The past decade has witnessed a ~tre-
mendous change in highway Transport
tation.r The motor vehicle is RESPONSE
BILE for this revolution in conveyance,
and to it is due a new stress upon the
United States.
Today there are said to be $4,000
motor vehicles in use in this country.
OF this number 1t is estimated that
100000 are commercial cars, ranging
from light delivery wagons to heavy
trucks.
Allowing an average of 5000 miles
per year for each the 100000 re-
naming passengers cars and assuming
an average Of three passengers to a
car, the result will show a total of As
000, 100000 passenger miles travelled
during the year. This figure exceeds
that for the railways of the United
States for the year of 1916, which was
$4,000, 10000 passenger miles. So
are automobiles and roads shown to
carry more people more miles than
railroads.
Good roads have a direct effect on
the cost of living. Motor trucks and