The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-08-14
TO SPEND
MILLIONS
ON ROADS
Never Before in History of Coun-
try Have Plans for Road I'm
provement Been So Elk
tensive.

Akron, Ohio, Aug. 14.-The United
States is in the midst of the greatest
highway building campaign in the
history of the world The aggregate
amount to be expended this year on
the roads and lanes OF the country
would build and duplicate another
Panama canal, According to figures
collected by the b. f. Goodrich Rub
her Compny, combined forces of the
federal government, states and coun-
ties will spend $375,OOO,000 in new
construction and maintenance of the
nations network of highways.
Roughly Goodrich officials estimate
that the expenditures for highway inn
provement is approximately $500 per
capita; or, to emphasize this, each
man. woman and child in the United
States would contribute this much for
the building and bettering of roads
were taxation on such bassi. Were
the expense apportioned out on an
average basis each state would pay
81, ,O83,333
The era of good roads talk has at
last been succeeded by the era of
good roads construction. Public senti-
meEs1s solidly behind extensive high
way programs now, says one of the
Goodrich highway correspondents, but
the enthusiasm must not wane. The
millions being spent will be spent in.
vain unless states undertake to re-
pair roads as quickly as they build.
While the amount available for eX-
penditure this year seems staggering
it will not be enough to make up for
deferred war construction, for nor
maIly the amount spent on roads in
the United States is well above
$2,50000 an dthe war restriction
brakes applied brought road building
almost to a stop in many localities.
Three great factors have been
largely responsible for this year g
amazing highway expenditures. First,
the incentive for states to match fed
eral aid appropriations; section, the
passage of enormous bond issues for
good roads in many states; and
third, the attention on the urgent
need Of good roads by the war.
Reports from state highway com
to the Goodrich officials
give some interesting individual fea
lures.
Constructor in Virginia during the
next six years Of $3.50 miles of high !
way at cost of more than $60,000,- |
O00 has been approved.
In the New England states-Con-
nectieut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, |
Vermont and New Hampshire have |
been interesting in closing up short
gaps on their main highways, which |
are otherwise improved for the en-
tire distance. The same condition i
has been true in New York, where
projects are being linked |
up with an extensive network of
roads which are already hard sur
faced.
One of the features of this years
work will be the completion of the
Dixie highway which will be done
by the states cooperating with each
other and with the government For
Instance, in Illinois the highway will
be improved in many spots, one of
which is over a distance of 545 miles
at a cost of $9047O0 and the con
3truction will be of concrete and bit
lminous macadam. At the same time
Georgia will lbe working on the road
rom Atlanta through to Macon, a
distance of ~ miles and continual
ion of the Dixie Highway in that
state. In Tennessee and kentucky
Projects are under way which will
urther serve to improve this famous
I'D highway, which cuts through the
.entral section of the country from
lorth to south
Iowa is entitled to the palm for con
istent road construction. This state,
which has more automobiles per
apita than any other state in the
niOn, spent in the neighborhood of
100000 during both 1917 and
91S, and is spending $2O,49S,534 this
ear. Iowa has an ideal road build
ng program. When their state sys-
sm is completed it will be not only
he equivalent Of a trunk line system
to the cities, but to
runk line clear across the state from
ast te west through every county,
nd north and south through everyy
uonty as well. The Iowa plan will