Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-07-09
nv c :. Lee. Director Highways In

BY 4. =. Lee, lClitItCi
formation Service. New fork)
The growth IF The Good Roads
Movement" in the United states ana
Canada since its organized inception
in 1850. and with the great stimulus
II received in the periods Immediately
following the advent of the automobile
and the appearance Of the motor truck
has hoen 50 rap.d. so extensive and so
effective that highway construction
today constitutes one OF the greatest
il not the greatest, problems in Amer
lean economic life
There are now 1902 organized
agencies actively and directly pieahlhg
the cause IF good roads. The aSlta-
tlon. to date has brought about the
construction Of 3l0,00n miles Of sur
faced highways-r the highway
mileage of tn" United states 10 -
4TS552 and that of Canada to -'''eoe'
The automutiyc industry. fourth
largest in the country. with sos manu-
featuring plants capitalized at sl,2c4'-
27S,G42 and employing 32o.oo" war;
mon: having an annual output OF -
c05ls7 passenger cars and trucks VAL
ued at s2,594.Sl4.6@0. and supplement-
ed as il is, BY 1900 firms producing
A,,,o parts valued at $500, 100000 a
year. together with 1000 hrms manu-
featuring annually S5,000,O0p tires
valued at 81 900 600. 000. is absolutely
dependent upon highway Improvement
for its stability and upon increased
road mileage for greater expansion
In addition. 81 900 distributors of au-
,ynobiIcs are involved as well as 90
500 dealers in automobile accessories
and 5000 dealers in tires. So great,
too, has the oad-building industry be
come, in consequence of the demand for
improved roads. that there are now
1900 contracting firms engaged IN &C
tual construction work. The roads are
now trayersed by 9,21l.295 licensed
cars and trucks of which 100000 are
used on the farms These cars con-
sumed $500. 00O. 600 gallons Of gasoline
last year
Start Of Campaign
Prior to 1851. when Amos @. Batch
elder. late chairman Of the Executive
Board. American Automobile Associd-
ton at Washington, with II. S. Earle
Of Detroit and other pioneer advo-
Gates, organized the League Of Ameri-
can Whceimen and began a systematic
campaign, a good roads enthusiast was
looked upon with undiSguised curiosi-
ty or amusement as something Of a
'nut"--a loquacious. but, no doubt,
we'll meaning person who might be
seen but not heard. Usually he was
promptly sat down upon" by the lu-
gubriouS taxpayer.
Opposition gradually melted away,
however, as the campaign became
more fully organized and extended,
Since 1850 more than 3.000.000,0 900
has been spent for highway improve
ment in the United States and Canada
More than 81, 500, 10000 is now avail
able. and. 1900. 900, 600 additional will
be necessary 10 carry out projects
under contemplation. And vet, with
all this, only beginning has been
made. Billions more must be expend-
cd before the country has anything
like highway system adequate to
,he traffic needs
The great demand for good roads
and the progress made in road build
ing has evolved many types of hard
surfaced roadway, of which the btu
minous are in greatest general use
The popularity Of these types. cspe-
cially those Of the sheet asphalt. the
asphaltic concrete and asphalt ma
cadam. is due to their long wearing
qualities. rcsilicncy against traffic inn
pact dustleSSnesS, noselcsSncsS
cleanliness and low cost Of upkecp
Brick and concrete roads have also de-
Ncloped with the agitation as have the
wooden block and granite block types
The most recent available figures give
All per cent of the surfaced roads in
the United states as being Of gravel
?522 per cent as Of macadam, 17tt