Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-05-28

good roads. r rom May II TO May
= foru-minute speakers viii tour
this country IN the interest OF the
movement. Arrangements have also
been completed for conducting 60 au-
tomobile tours radiating from as many
cities into the rural districts contig-
uous 10 these centers and an essay
contest on the subject "ship-by-truck
and good roads" in which four
years university scholarship has been
offered for the best essay written by
high school pupil, has been arranged
for.
The war department which has hau
a great deal of experience with roads
in every section Of the country since
April, 1917, is the chief promoter OF
the campaign that is getting Under
way. Last fan the department sent
80 army trucks from this city 20 the
Pacific coast The officers ID charge
of that overland tour have recently
summed up their observations for the
benefit of the organizations that are
trying to increase the interest in good
roads
Results of Army Truck Trips.
The following are their Recommended
lions:
"First-That the necessity for a
comprehensive system Of national high
ways, INCLUDING transcontiuental or
through routes east and west and
north and south, is real and urgent, as
a commercial asset to further col
onize and develop the sparsely settled
sections of the country, and. finally
as defensive military necessity.
Second. THAT the existing roads
and bridges. especially in the sparsely
settled sections of the middle and
far western states. are absolutely IN
capable of meeting the present day
traffic requirements, and until mod
ern types of reads and bridges are
constructed which will permit the rap
id movement of heavy motor cargo
vehicles during any season of the year
and in all conditions OF weather eco
uomical transcontinental highway trAf'
fic will continue TO be hat a vain hope.
"Third-That the road problems of
the middle and far western states are
national rather than local problems,
us these states. while possessing vast
area and tremendous mileage Of high
ways. have only a sparse population
which cannot possibly undertake the
needed highway Improvement work.
which moreover. is usually of greater
importance to the country as a Whole
than to the individual states.
Fourth. the radius of action
and resulting utility value Of the mo-
tor vehicle is limited only by the
condition OF the roads. and that the
provision of adequate roads will have
a far reaching effect on the economic
development of the country at large.
"Fifth.-That the types of motor
vehicles, especially those used by the
army. should be co-ordinated with the
road conditions. In other words, un-
dl such time as all sections of the
c+untry are connected by improved
highways that are passahle to heavy
motor vehicle traffic at all seasons OF
the year, the size and weight Of We
hicles should be limited to types Of
fight and medium capacities"
Good Roads and Right Living.
What is called national ship-hy-
truck" organization has been formed
and is doing it, share of work in the
effort 20 get better roads built. II
was this organization that conceived
the Thought Of having good roads ser
mons preached in a. many churches
rs possible during the present month.
II asserts that it has discovered there
i a. direct relationship between good
roads and right living and good roads
and Christian progress" Stressing me
nnisf that the early construction OF
berter highways win prove one Of The
o,,ickest means of facilitating produe-
tion the national ship-by-truck" or
gonization says: THE purpose Is to
fx in the heart of citizens the conyic-
ZION that the next step to be taken
for the welfare of the community, The
notion and the world Is Immediately
IN improve the highways and 10 IN
.ug,trate measures whereby every
mile OF road bed in the United States
may be hard surfaced as soon rs the
combined forces of counties states
and the federal government can secure
this result
The urgent need Of increased trans
portation facilities is thus emphasized:
THE waterways and railroads no
longer can handle the volume Of traf-
fc that must be moved. Daily six
carloads of freight are offered for
shIpment IN five cars that are avail
able for this purpose. City dwe'lers
cannot continue 10 pay the present
prices of loodstuffs. a national fac
Tor in these excessive costs Is the haul
from the farm 10 the town over print
rive roads. The human family can.
nor live on the present annual supply
if production is to be Increased, the
earmers life must be made attractive.
Nothing else VIII produce this result
as surely as modern highways"