Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-08
BILES FOR ROADS
ON BUSINESS PLAN
Tells Highway Officers of the
Nation What Pennsyl-
vania Is Doing
Especial to The Telegraph }


Louisville, KY, Dec. S.-George
III. Biles, Assistant State Highway
Commissioner of Pennsylvania, to-
day at the opening session of the
American Association of State High
way Officials declared that in hand
ling the huge sums of money every
where being appropriated for better
, highways efficient business methods
must be employed.
,, "If the people of the United
States" said Mr.. Biles. "are to con-
tinue to put money into good roads
in the future as they have been do
ing for the last year, they will in
sist upon an honest return for the
money invested. Never in the his
tory OF the country has there been
so tremendous an expenditure for
PUBLIC improvements as is now
! planned for better highways and
this money must be 5udiciously ex-
| pended.
I'm the present era 1T reqiures
courage to disburse vast sums of
public money, especially in such a
physical thing as highway construc-
tion; courage to do the right thing
in spite of the selfish aims and i'm
| portunities of individuals or COM
munities. Time will vindicate 4
WIN "StA dOhGp Dut lHlnRS QOne IN
moments of ill-considered action
are irretrievable."
Mr.. Biles said that the tudicious
| expenditure of money depends upon
the personnel of the State Highway
department which is making the
expenditure. Jealous and efficient
men must be secured, he said. who
are responsive at all times to the
demands of the situation and who
| VIII work as team for the realizo-
tion or the aims and purposes of
| the executive.
In developing an organization.
com oinlng technical and business
Iunctions' Tor work on large scale.
such as State Highway Depart
ment' said Mr.. Biles, ''it is orr
theory that statutes sbouid he
passed empowering the State or
ganization to supervise expenditures
ana operations, and extend engi-
neering and advisory assistance to
Tn the counties, townships or towns
me. highly trained engineerine
Iorce and the organization Of the
state should be at the disposal of
the county to avoid abortions
which are bound to result where in
Vulnerable engineers, with ms many
olnerent ideas. are permitted to
operate promiscuously. If there is
one thing that will jeopardize the
UsaonsuInmation a. of road program.
~ Is poor work, which may result
inspection. Work should he 6one
under standard specifications md
competent inspection. The insnac-
Tor on the contract is the most i'm
portant individual on the work for
upon MIN depends the success or
Iallure OF carrying out the enei-
neer's plans. The inspection force
should be composed of fair-mindad
Intelligent and practical men. who
hoid allegiance to no one save their
superiors. These men should he
palo wage commensurate with the
Importance of the work. II has
Deen our experience that where com
munltles appropriate large sums Of
money me or issue bonds. they welcome
ere cooperation OF the State, as it
creates sense of security on their
part, and in good road camnaipns
throughout the State this protection
mas been the biggest contributinp
tactor to their success
Is through such co-operation
that the comprehensive idea of State
systems or main primary roads can
De extended to the counties on coo
ondary systems or roads of local i'm
portance, which tie into the main
system. with the ultimate satisfac-
ton of seeing roads built. not for
any selfish interest, but to meet the
demands OF traffic. starting some
mere and ending somewhere. and
sooa highways. Build roads that
WIN reasonable maintenance will
be there at the maturity of vomr
bonds. build for the future, canita H.
ing high maintenance cost and nut-
ting this in the road"