The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1919-12-06
NATIONAL HIGHWAY
SYSTEM REAL NEED
TO SEEING COUNTRY
Resort Hotels Hope for Perma-
nent Increase in Travel
in the Future

Washington, Nov. 29.-The de-
mand for a national highway system
has found expression during the past
week in an unexpected quarter. Re-
sort hotels have taken up the slogan,
"See America T::--55tt, " in the hope Of
stimulating travel to offset the loss
in revenue which has resulted from
the shutdown in the liquor traffic
and the consequent closing Of hotel
bars. To make such campaign re-
suit in e permanent increase in travel
it is now recognized as never before
that a trunk line system Of national
highways is the first important step.
When the slogan, which the public
is now getting behind with renewed
vigor, was first presented, the pri-
mary purpose was to stimulate pleas
ure travel On railways. With the
knowledge that America can be seen
to best advantage from touring car,
travelling by easy stages and with am
pie time to stop where nature lures
to refreshing side trips, the larger
functions of the public highway be-
come more distinct. Oddly enough, it
appears to, have remained for prohi
bition to put in good punch for road
development on a comprehensive
scale, result which even the most ar
dent dry advocates failed to include
in their predictions of national bene.
fit.
Advocates of a national highway
system to be constructed and main
tanned under federal control have
been keeping n close touch with
congressional action and are prepared
to press the Townsend bill Is. 1907
to a conclusion during the coming
session. This measure, it will be re-
called, has already been introduced
in congress by Senator Townsend,
chairman of the senate committee on
postoffices and post roads. 1t pro-
poses to create a federal highway
commission for the express purpose
Of taking over such lines as may be
designated as a part Of a national
highway system, and to construct
such highways upon basis that will
not only insure the sound investment
of highway funds, but to create a sys-
tenn of highways nationwide in their
structure which will serve not only as
the backbone of a perfected highway
transportation system in itself as an
auxiliary to the railways, but which
by example will lead to better con-
struction Of state and county lines
connecting Herewith.
Highway officials and others inter
ested in the adjustment of the public
road to all types and conditions Of
traffic, long or short, are pleased over
the fact that the public locally is be-
ginning to see the advantages that
viii accrue to every community
through the flow of long distance
travel. 1t has been a theory, national
highway supporters assert, that the
building of roads for tourist traffic,
so-called, would in no way benefit the
man who is in need Of more depend
able roads to his FOCAL market. But
wherever tourist traffic has been
given an open road, local trade has
both for the farmer who
has produce to sell, and fog the local
merchant as well. Instances Of this
phase of highway travel are found all |
along the main routes across the |
country, and new stopping points fer
motorists are developing, thus supply
ing greater stimulus to local trade.
The movement inaugurated to in
crease nationwide travel promises to
profit those who travel far more than
those to whom mere coin is paid for |
such personal service or comforts sup
piled along the way.
Shortly after the assembling Of the
next congress supporters of the ma
tional highway project expect to get
in action and successfully launch the
building Of federal highways, the
greatest public enterprise since the
building of the Panama canal.
N AATNEn Or ~0Nyrruan-