Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-13
MOTOR TRUCK AS FACTOR
IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT
English Advocate Would Improve
Roads and Raise Speed Limit
to 40 Miles an Hour.
C7NTRALIzE HIGHWAY CONTROL
Thinks Proper Development of Motor
Passenger Lines Would Enable
LondonS Tccming Thousands To
Secure Homes in Country.
M DELr EDWARDS.

LONDON, April l2.-Wiliam Joyn-
SON Hicks. chairman OF the newly.ap-
of Parliament. sees perhaps more Keen
~ than any other public man the great
relopment Of motor transport and au-
tomObile roads. He has been lighting
for this for years.
He believes the lessons OF the motor
truck In the war have proved that it
can be utilized tremendously -or the
upbuildins OF commerce and country.
AS chairman OF the automobile as
socation he has long recognized the
necessity for good roads; as chairman
the great value OF the motor as time
saver and direct method OF freight
Reform in Road Control.
Mr. Joynson- Hicks advocates these
important things for EnEland--many
Of which. il is pointed out. could be
l. Capitalization OF power and au-
thority over the highways in the road
board. which was organized years ago
but just now IS IN state or suspend
ed animation.
the undeveloped sections OF the coun-
try-away from the railroads. for the
better development of suburban sec
tions
3. Construction and reconstruction Of
roads for purely commercial reasons.
leaving the pleasure automobile as
a secondary consideration.
4. Proper supervision to provide for
continuous maintenance of trunk high
ways between important industrial CEN
terS
>. Building completely around Lon
don great circular boulevard and
highway. which would induce thous-
ands and thousands OF persons TO es-
tablish homes in the suburbs. This
also would Nrovidc speedy motor tran
sit around the city, instead OF through
II. thus saving much time and reduc-
ing accidents.
Would Rcmovc Speed Limit.
6. Renewing restrictions, such as the
rate forty miles an hour instead Of
twenty which no one observes.
:. Providing homes for the tceming
thousands in crowded London by talk
4. ing them to the suburbs by motor
passenger lines.
I'VE have been endeavoring to build
up our road system and motor-fregh /
routes for some time" said Mr.. Joyn-
son-iiicks, in an exclusive interview
for the International News Service.
The entire housing question and all
road communication III agricultural
districts depend upon motor transport.
and this san be provided only by me-
pared roads
There used 10 be a feeling against
war. so many OF tho people believing
that automobiles were only for pleas
ure purposes. ! tried to have more at
Tcntion paid 10 the subject. but was
hootcd at.
Sentiment Hns Changed.
But now. with the war. there has
come change Of sentiment. We have
all seen .the great use to which the
motor lorry was put in the war, what
tremendous part it played; To illus,
trate At the start we laid down small
railroads in France for transportation
up To the front. The lines became
tied. Motor lorries had TO he sent
out 10 take the material off the rail
ways and then deliver ii TO the front.
Then came. the long trains of motor
structed through Belgium. These roads
We're not trench roads. but real high
10000 men working constantly. repair
ing and rebuilding, with remarkable
speed. even roads torn up by shell fire
only a few days before.
development of the motor lorry
service throughout England would
mean tremendous boon TO com
We are very badly OFF for housing in
England. The development of motor
passenger lines into the open country
would. OF course, mean the opening OF
fine suburban sections The motor
tons"
lis there central body now with
power TO compel the maintenance of
trunk routes
Want, Honrd TO Have More Power.
The road board sets aside so much
money for certain improvements. y
community comes tQ.. il and says it
ton. The road bott+d saii suggest that
certain stretch be put IN good con-
t dm;on; hnl it cannot compel IT, II the
board can withhold the money The
committee wants 10 see more AUTHORITY
given 70 the board"