The New York herald., 1921-04-17


enumeration without complsxity. Eubdi-
vision OF the investigator 30 determfns
whether the route Is TO be heavy truck
traffio' or for light traffic would re-
quire segregation OF the heavy and light
truck records respectively, but this wo uld
not affect the main purpose OF the in
vestigation, namely. TO ascertain Justi-
fable outlay.
Counting the traffic on tho old road
Ia manifestly an inadequate method of
ascertaining total ton nntlea After the
highway is improved 1t will divert
traffic from other highways will stirnu-
late local traffic so that more miles will
be travelled in given period. increase
deliveries from and to market points; !;
develop resources and finally, if 1t is on
a trunk line or a route to scenic and
recreational regions IL will draw in
CREASED tourist travel These various
classes Of anticipated travel may be
termed potential and however nrri-
cult of exact estimate the investigator
should give weight to them In his recon-
mendation as to Justifiable outlay. 1t is
suggested that for the potential local
traffic zone be plotted to include the
territory which might logically be
served by the highway after improve
ment- Within this zone the investigator
could mako an approximate automobile
census and so aoQuaint himself with the
business. Industrial and social factors
and possibilities of the zone as to estab-
lish a basis for estimating both the
saturation point in motor vehicle owner
ship and the average mileage per car. In
short, without attempting to present
here the exact detail of q traffic survey
do mean TO urge the necessity and
practicability of traffic census which
covers both existing and potential traf-
fic.
Operating costs of motor vehicles
are ascertainable and may be expressed
in ton mile units. Costs of gasolene, oil,
tires, repairs and depreciation. garage.
chauffeur, taxes. &C.. make substantial
national standpoint may be CLEANED
total. How the figures look from a
from statistics. Thus, In 1920. the gaso-
lene consumed by motor cars amounted
to 3.200. 900. 900 gallons, worth nearly .
billion dollars at prices paid by car
owners. Tires are estimated by NJ. O..
Eldrfdge, director of roads of the Amer
loan Automobile Association, at $1,000
900, 900 a year. Mr. Edridge says !:
Compare the smooth residence of Fifth
avenue, New York. with the rough.
gritty and fiinty surfaces SO often en-
countered on country roads and try
to imagine what q tddy sum in tire
bills would be sawed Ii we could all
travel ON avenue surfaces" Luhricat-
ing oils to the extent OF about Its, ,000,-
600 gallons worth as, many dollars
we're required Repairs and deprecia-
tion on 9,250,000 cars If averaged at
only $3.50 per annum would yield total
of more than $4,000 100000. License
fees alone In 1920 aggregated about
100000, ,0O0 and this together with
costs for garage. chauffeur, insurance
and miscellaneous items makes 1t evil
dent that on conservative basis of
estimating we can place the annual
motor traffic cost at near $4,000, 00O, 900,
or the equivalent OF ten times the entire
highway expenditures outside OF cities
The average per car II we use 9,250, 900
as the number Of oars and s5,000,-
100000 as the annual cost would be
s540. II the average mileage is 5000
the cost a car mile is 10.S cents. Applied
to ton miles tho average would be some
what lower. as the trucks loaded would
average three tons, thus making It
probably S.e cents. As to whether such
a rate per mile is too high or too low
on a given highway should be ascer-
tained by the investigator. When he
has determined upon the rate. however,
and applied 1t to the potential ton miles,
on the highway for potential traffic II
no saving were effected.
THE cost OF operation per ton mile
on the old road should be ascertained
and from this should be subtracted the
estimated cost Of operation per ton mile
on the improved highway established by
comparative data of operating costs on
highways similar to the type or types
under consideration for the improve
ment. AS the traffic cost per ton milo
would be affected by the character Of