South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-13
WAR SHOWS HOW
To BUILD ROADS
Engineer Corps in France Did
Great Work Constructing
New Highways.

I
John H. Bankhead. chairman of the
committee on postofices and post
roads, to which all highways legisla-
ton in the upper branch OF congress
is referred. in commenting upon
bills now pending. recently made
( this plea for roads at home"
'The war showed what the ma
tional strength could accomplish IN
the swift construction OF rapid
transit highways and the use there
on of rapid-transit vehicles.
THE nation trained its engineer
corps and sent them TO Europe
equipped for the quick construction
of roads. The part which the United
| states took in the decisive campaign
was rendered possible by the use OF
automobiles and motor trucks over
rapid-transit highways.
Now that the war is over the
question arises. are not highways as
vitality important for the conduct Of
peace as they were for the conduct
OF war? With half the world GO
ing to bed hungry every night and
millions doomed to starvation. is not
swift construction of the highway
! to the acre that produces as urgent
"A necessity as were the roads in tho
battle zone? And if the need is as
! urgent should the nation slacken its
effort or permit its road-buildin<
equipment TO be sold or dissipated?
Should it not rather increase its eff
fort i'm this direction and proceed
with the construction Of highways
at home on a scale commensurate
with the importance and urgency Of
the need
L. s. Must Answer
1T is for the congress OF the
United States 10 answer these ques-
tions. Measures are pending de-
signed TO meet the situation, three
Of which are as follows:
81. Joint resolution 200. author
ling the transfer from the war de-
partment TO the department Of agri-
culture of all available dispensable
and suitable war material for dis
tribution to the highway depart
ments of the several states for use
on the highways.
"2. Senate bill 50SS increasing
the present unexpended appropria-
ton of about 100000 900 for road
purposes by the addition Of S125,-
100000 for expenditures to June.
1920, and 100000 zoo a year there
after for four years. 1t is also pro-
posed to increase the appropriation
for national forest roads OF 81 ,O0O.-
1,a 1
road-building program by a sum
sufficient TO construct 1900 miles
of forest roads. which the govern
ment has already planned and which
are necessary in order to utilize the
vast resources Of the national
forests The estimated cost of
these roads is $50, 900. 900. Amend
ments to the present road act free
ing it from undesirable limitations
are also planned. one of which will
enable the government to construct
at its own cost links in important
highways which could not other
wise be constructed.
Carries Big sum.
go House bill 1330S carries an
appropriation of $1,000 900 for an
extension Of the motor-truck parcel
post service This is an increase
from the 100000 provided in the
last postoffice appropriation bill.
which also authorized the war de
partment to transfer to the post
Office department motor trucks for
which it had no further use. Under
last years appropriation % motor
truck routes were established, all
but one of which were operated
east of the Mississippi river. The
results. even in the initial stage. are
such as TO warrant an increase in
the number OF routes and their ex-
tension TO the transit Mississippi re-
gion. where rail and water facilities
Of transportation are altogether in
adequate. The proposed transfer Of
900 motor trucks from the war
department TO the postoffice depart !
ment renders il possible TO make n !
great extension of this service at q |
minimum cost. II is proposed 10 |
Increase the appropriation for this /,
service to $4,000. 900. To store |
these trucks would cost $500. 600 a |
year. To dump them on the market /
would be disastrous. To turn them /
loose 10 aid agriculture in the move /
ment Of farm products TO the con- /
sumner would be craftsmanship. To /
adopt such a policy would be but /
10 follow historic precedent.
Senate bill 5OSS has the an 4
prevail of Pres't Wilson and Sec'ys I
Houston and Baker The PROPOSE /
ton not to lessen the national en- I
deavor i'm road construction now
that peace has come. but merely 20 I
transfer the scene Of action from
Europe to the homeland is but the I
response 20 a universal demand.
The public rejoices 10 see the 4
trophies Of war now being brought I
back from Europe Equally popu- ]
lar will be the sight OF machines 4
that built the United States road TO .
the Rhine at work building con-
Meeting highways from Canada 70 .
the southern boundary and from the I
Atlantic TO the Pacific through every
state in the Union
Gov.-elect Henry J. Allen OF Kan 4
sas. while in Washington the other 4
day. was interviewed, and his good /
roads comment deserves national 4