Evening star., 1921-05-08

ten years hence with good roads
everywhere
The highways of the United States
present a sorry spectacle. humillat-
ing to national pride, when compared
with the highways of the allies he
continued. ''Consider our roads. We
have 100000 miles of them. of
which 100000 compare faVorably
with those of our allies-that is. we
go one mile out Of town on a good
road and the next nine miles on an
eXecrable wagon trail.
I'VE have seen that England and
France occupy a strong position in
the highway means of national Sc
curity and defense. Our position in
this respect is as weak as theirs is
strong. Since the armistice the war
plans division of the War College has
made study of our highways from
this viewpoint and has prepared
map showing the system of highways
needed for the purpose. Those roads
exist on paper only.
Highway Conditions.
Highway conditions in this coun-
came a day when the United States
grimly set itself to put an end to the
ugly business overseas: it was when
word came from over the ocean that
France was 'bled white. Rural
United States is ''bled white What
ulO lHe HeSleCleu IOdu. IL
that which killed the country school,
the country church. the country home.
The census tells the tale of the eX-
odus of the people. moving from the
unpaved to the paved portion of the
United States as fast as they can
command the means. Pavement in the
one place, mud in road in the other,
go far to explain the hegira.
Against the bright background of
more fortunate Europe l have tried to
sketch the highway status of our
homeland stressing the results OF
good roads over there and bad roads
over here. 1t remains to discuss the
how and when for us.
How are we to reach the goal
which our more progressive friends
have attained?
ITO get good roads it is necessary to
adopt a sound road policy to secure
equipment and to connect with the
cash.
"a sound road policy requires that
roads be classified according to their
function, and that responsibility for
the construction and maintenance of
hi ghways should rest upon those
whose interests are primarily in
volved in the highway
This is the policy adopted abroad
Experience should have a value. That
which has secured roads overseas
should secure them here.
County and State Roads.
"First. There is the county road. Its
primary function is to serve county
needs. While its function is vital
linking farm and market-its use is
mainly local. The county. therefore,
should assume responsibility for it. 1t
should be built and cared for by
county funds. Exception should be
made of certain roads in the counties
whose function places them in an
other class-that of state or federal
roads.
Second There is the state high
way. the aggregate of which consti-
These are the roads which, while
serving local needs in the counties,
have for their primary function high
way service to the state as a whole.
The system is usually planned to con-
nect the county seats and all these
with the state capital. The state,
therefore. should assume RESPONSE
bility for these roads. They should
be built and cared for through state
taxation. Exception should be made
of certain roads in the states whose
function places them in third class,
that of national roads.
Third. There is the national high
way. the aggregate of which will con-
stitute the system of national high
ways. These are the roads which.
while serving county needs. state
needs and interstate needs, have for
their primary function highway serv-
ice to the country Is a whole. With
nine million registrations here az
ready. and half the adults of Amer
lea making constant use Of motor
vehicles mostly for business, and since
it is cheaper-if there are as many
as four in the party-to travel in the