The sun., 1919-04-13
GOOD ROADS NEED
MOTOR CLUBS AID
Highway Transportation's I'm
provement One Of the Press
ing Problems Of To-day.
NJ GEORGE G. DIEHL,


Chairman Of Good Roads Committee
Neto York state Motor Federation.
Never has the good roads movement
needed the automobile clubs more than
at the present time. In the great recon-
struction problem before the nation
transportation Development, particularly
as II pertains TO the public highways,
will occupy a most important place. says
Mr.. Diehl.
A few years ago II was thought that
work Of this kind by the New York State
| automobile clubs had almost ceased. as
the commonwealth had voted favorably
| for large road bond issues and the work
had been well nigh completed.
Made Possible by Cooperation.
The war has given US keener concep-
ton of our duty TO our Government, and
| one of the best means available to the
motorist is in the intelligent and un-
| selfish advocacy OF properly connected
and well developed highway systems.
| The connected system of highways
| across the poorer counties and towns
| OF New York State was made possible
| by reason OF the cooperation Of the cities
| of the State. All contributed to the road
| fund, with the result that instead of dis
connected improved portions there are
| continuous roads from one end of the
| State to the other. In just the same
manner there must be hearty cooperation
| on tho part of the richer States IL we
are to secure national highways across
the poorer States,
II New York city had not helped to
| defray the cost Of highway construction
| outside Of her limits, then New York
| State could not boast Of the finest system
OF highways In the United States. and II
the State of New York and the other
richer Eastern States, which have had
considerable State road development, re-
fuse to help. then there will never be a
great national system Of highways. Only
four out Of forty-two Congressman from
New York State voted favorably at
Washington for Federal aid for road
building purposes.
! 1t has been shown by experience that
good road begets other COOL roads. and
the first step in the. construction of State
and county lateral systems Is the crea-
ton OF a great national system Of high
ways and every motorist no matter
from what State he comes, should, first
of all. look at the road problem from
the national viewpoint. and 1t may
safely be said that once this part OF the
problem Is solved the smaller political
subdivisions will do the rest.
Tho Appalachian Cut.
In New York state is found the lowest
crossing OF the Appalachian system in
the country. This made possible the
New York Central Railroad and the Erie
Canal and made New York the Empire"
State: SO It Is reasonable to suppose that
one Of the great national highways will
cross New York State. and although the
State has improved the location which
this route will likely follow. yet the i'm
provement has been inadequate. as the
fact Is continually impressing itself upon
the minds Of thoughtful men that the
tonnage carried on public highways Is
increasing by leaps and bounds to such
an extent that the main roads across the
State of New York must be of more
durable construction and Of considerably
wider cross section.
To state this fact more specifically It
might be said that the road surface must
be OF reinforced concrete or block pave
ment construction, at least "a feet wide.
and in the vicinity Of cities at least 30
feet wide. The cost of this added de-
velopment will, Of course, fall in part
upon the Federal Government
A fundamental principle OF road ex-
penditure is that the money involved
bears quite a definite relation TO the ton
| mage which the road carries. The num-
Der OF passenger motor vehicles in the
country has increased in a comparatively
few years until there are now upward of
| five million. II Is not at all unlikely
| that there will be an equal IL not
greater increase in the number of motor
trucks, with a much greater proportion
ate increase in the tonnage carried by
| the highways. This is merely another
way OF saying that the road appropria-
| tons must be enormously increased, and
| the great problem presents itself to mo-
torists OF convincing the taxpaying pub
lie OF the necessity of increasing their
contributions for road purposes.
Trahic Engineers Needed.
In order to carry this greatly Increased
| tonnage over the highways, not only
| added facilities will be required, but
there must be a more intelligent direc-
ion of traffic, 1t Is felt that motorists
IN general should urge the appointment