Omaha daily bee., 1919-03-26
A Federal Hlgh,Uay System
Christian Science Monitor.


There is no longer need, save in isolated
cases, for agitation of the question OF good
roads construction in the United States. The
whole nation is aroused on the subject States,
counties, and municipalities have given, or are
planning to give, literally toward highway
argument concerning the subject per Sc. Every
body, at all informed or interested, is convinced
with regard to the soundness of the general
proposition that the country should be, and must
be, not only gridironed, but cobwebbed. with
hardsurfaced roads for the accommodation of
motor cars. Transportation and distribution
in the future will be largely by automobile SER
vice. The automobile is ready, even now, to
take over an immense share of the short and
: long haul passenger and freight business of the
United States it awaits only the completion of
roadways over which it may be operated with
economy. The experimental stage in motor-car
transportation may be said to have passed.
The United States government under the
federal aid amendment to the general appro-
priation BILL will distribute $200,000,O00 during
the next three years in addition to $66.000.OO0
already provided, among the several states en-
gagged in road building, according to their de-
serving. Each state, in other words, will be
rewarded in proportion to its own expenditure
on highways. The state doing the most on its
own account will receive the greatest aid from
the federal appropriation. The purpose of the
government in this distribution is to help those
states which are willing to help themselves.
This provision of congress for the encourage
ment of good road construction is farsighted;
every mile of highway constructed, or made
ready for motor traffic, adds to the wealth of the
nation; the condition that the states shall de-
serve federal aid before receiving it is wise.
Everything is at it should be, thus far.
The one great defect in the whole under
taking is that construction in the several states
is left to their respective compissions; not that
the state commissions are incompetent, or like
ly to be, but. rather here is case in which CO.
operation, coordination, unity of action, among
all the states, with reference to essential points,
rs of the greatest importance. Road building
should be carried on according to some plan
generally acceptable to the states and the ma
ton, and with respect for the advice and the
needs OF those who are to use the highways.
Advantage should be taken of all the experience
gathered by all the states. Some of this has
been gathered at a very high cost 1t is valu-
able asset. The whole nation should share in it.
Since so great an expenditure is to be made on
highways during the next three years, is it not
plainly both prudent and udicous that the work
should be carried on in the main, by, or at least
under the supervision OF, federal commission?
To every intelligent observer of the situa-
ton it is becoming apparent that there is need
of national system of highways Roads do not
end at state lines. Traffic will not begin or end
at state boundaries. The character and condi-
ton of roadways in a neighboring state, or
throughout an entire section, are as important
to'tfe motor car user as the character and con-
dition of the roadways in his own state, his own
county, or his own community. Now when the
work of road construction is beginning on
scale commensurate with the boundaries of the
country local should readily and cheerfully give
way to national interests. The automobile owner
in Maine, today, may be an automobile owner in
California few days hence. The condition of
highway traffic in Florida already has interest
for the motor-car user in Oregon and this in
terest is bound to increase. A comprehensive
scheme of construction and maintenance such
as could be possible under federal commission
would insure high standard of road building
and road repair everywhere. In fact, only
through the agency of central or federal body
acting in harmony with the state highway COM
missions, can the character of the roadways of
the country be kept at high level.