South Bend news-times., 1919-08-03
Motor Cars

The United States is in the midst
OF the greatest highway building
campaign in the history Of the
lanes Of the country would build
world. The aggregate amount 20 be
expended this year on the roads and
and duplicate anoJner Panama
canal. According to figures collect /
ed by the 3. +. Goodrich Rubber
Co. combined forces Of the federal /
government. states and counties Will
spend 1915, 100000 in new construc-
tion and maintenance of the ma
tions network of highways. This is
the first complete survey Of 1919
good roads expenditures.
Roughly Goodrich officials esti
mate that the expenditures for high
way Improvement is approximately
S3.O9 per capita; or, 10 emphasize
this. each man. woman and child in
the United States would contribute
this much for the building and bet
terjng Of roads were taxation on
such "A basis. Were the expense APP
portoned out on an average basis
each state would pay S7,0S3,333.
The era of good roads talk has at
last been succeeded by the era Of
good foads construction. Public
sentiment is solidly behind extensive
highway building programs now.
says one of the Goodrich highway
CorresoOndents, but the enthusiasm
must not wane. The millions being
spent will be spent in vain unless
states undertake to repair roads as
quickly as they build.
While the amount available for ex-
penditure this year seems staggering
Z it viii not be enough to make up fo-
| deferred war construction for nor
! mally the amount spent on roads in
/ the United States is well above So
I 800, GOO, and the war restriction
I brakes applied brought road build
\ ing almost 10 a stop in many .locali-
I ties.
Three great factors have been
/ largely responsible for this years
/ highway expenditures. First. the in
/ centive for states to match federal
aid appropriations; second, the pas
| sage of enormous bond issues for
good roads in many states; and
third, the attention on the urgent
need of good roads by the war.
Nirginia's Road Plans.
Reports from state highway com
missioners to the Goodrich officials
show some interesting individual
| features.
Construction in Virginia during
the next six years of $3.50 miles Of
highway at a cost of more than
$50. 1000. 600 has been approved
In the New England states-Con-
necticut Massachusetts,. Rhode
| Island, Vermont and New Hamp-
shire have been interesting in clos
ing up short gaps on their main
highways, which are otherwise i'm
/ proved for he entire distance. The
/ same condition has been true in
New York, where numerous projects
are being linked up with an exten-
sive network of roads which are al
ready hard surfaced.
Complete Dixie Highway.
One of the features of this years
work will be the completion Of the
I Dixie highway. which will be done
by the states cooperating with each
other and with the government For
instance, in Illinois the highway will
De improved IN many spots. one of
which is over a distance of 54.5
miles at a cost Of S9O4,70O. and the
construction will be of concrete and
oltuminous macadam. At the same
time Georgia will be working on the
road from Atlanta rhrougb NFaoo-
distance of y miles and a con-
tinuation Of the Dixie highway in
that state. In Tennessee and Ken
lucky projects are under way which
VIII further serve TO improve this
famous old highway, which cuts