The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-14
Problems Involved in
 Railway Operation Again
 Bring Highways Forward
National System, Co-Ordinated With State and County Lines. Necessary
 to Complete and Stable Service

Washington, D. C., September 13.
 The possibility of another period Of
 Transportation congestion is once more
 front
 While it is admitted that the rail-
 ways must necessarily form the nations
 long distance transportation lines, the
 auxiliary power of the public road,
 through the development of the gaso-
 line engine and the motor vehicle, is
 receiving thoughtful attention in or
 ficial circles.
 Public discussion of high cost prop
 lens and the railway situation ran in-
 to the country road at two points dur
 ing the past few days. The first point touched was that the public highway is a potential short haul freight ana express line, and with the national system of improved roads intersecting
 each state north, south, east and west, there will thus be constructed the basis of a comprehensive, nation-Wlde system of traffic arteries with which state and county systems may con meet. With such system provided the development of freight and ex~ press transportation is anticipated lar beyond compreheRsion. It's advocates assert that the motor truck as 1t ap- pears on the public highway today IS but an infant compa1ed to what II will be, once the public roads are built to permit it's enlarged use. Those who doubt the possibilities or the highway freight and express as factors in the reduction and stabiliz- ing of food costs are told to look back
 over the development of the railway and note that the beginning was upon
 basis far less promising as practical
 proposition than the basis upon which | the gasoline driven vehicle stands to- day.
 l Dropping back to the point of short
 haul delivery, attention is being called , to the fact that the radius of high
 ay shipping Is being gradually ex- | tended as modern roads are being built 1 Advocates of a national highway sys- 1 tenn, the creation of which is provided 1 for in the Townsend bill now pending
 in Congress, have encountered the argu- ment that approximately fifty miles | is the maxium of motor delivery Their answer is that while this may be true 1 it is only at the present time because | of illogical connections and the genera
 condition of the road.
 The same economic conditions which forced railway development is forcing | a national development of the public | highway, and the advocates of a na- 1 tional highway system assert that each days discussion of the present econo- l mic situation produces additional req sons why the federal government must get down to highway building on | nation wide scale and in dead earnest In a sense. the legislative mind al | Washington seems to be approaching
 problems, like the proverbial cat, keer somewhat in a spirit of weariness sons why the federal government mus l the present phase of economic problems
 twill we ever get anything really fin ished" Is a question which seems to ex press their feelings, since so many
 coming back.
 l But one fact seems to be making it. 1 self very clear and that is that since
 the public highway is the first lap be- tween the produced and consumer, the <! ogical place to begin cutting dowr living costs is by eliminating perman- ently the time consumed and fuel vast
 ing roads. To accomplish this purpose the construction of a national high ] way system as a necessary and loglca connection with state and county sys- tems Is being looked upon with increas ! ed favor.