Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1922-01-26
ROADS OUTCROWN BY
MOTOR VEHICLES
Ohioans Invest $7O0, 600, 900 in Indivi-
dual Transportation and Only
$3,00O,000 Year in New
Highways
Incessant Strain on Roads and
Director Herrick's Policy of
Sound Construction, Watch
ed with Interest by
Other States

To salvage transportation waste
through better highway construction
and put the money thus gained back
into more roads is now the common
goal of State Highway Departments,
according to plans which are being
submitted in connection with road
building projects throughout the
United States.
Chief among States that the taking
the lead for early construction upon
a definite policy for roads of adequate
strength and proper connections, is
Ohio. 1t is understood that Director
Herrick, OF that State, will have all
contracts for the year let by April,
in order that no time may be lost
after construction season opens.
1t is said here that Ohio occupies
a pivotal position in highway develop
ment, from the TACT that public roads
in no other State are subjected TO
such terrific pounding under inter
city traffic.
From data obtained, it is found
that freight and passenger tonnage
is growing at a rate out of all pro-
portion to the construction of roads
of sufficient strength to bear the in
cessant strain, and that unless the
wide gap between service required
and service the roads are now unable
to render, is closed by better con-
struction, the taxpayers are likely to
be confronted with an annual road
repair that will consume the States
entire road income and leave nothing
for new construction.
For this reason the readjustment
of transportation channels in Ohio is
being watched with interest, as this
readjustment may have lesson for
other States. Highway authorities
frankly assert that Director Her
rick's avowed policy of sound con-
struction to avoid excessive repairs
later, is the only safe course to
/ In his address before the Associa-
tion of State Highway Officials at
Omaha at its December meeting,
Thos. H. Macdonald, Chief of the u
S. Bureau of Public Roads, again
sounded a warning note to the effect
that roads are not being built in pro-
portion to requirements, and that the
investment by the people in motor
cars outdistanced their investments
in roads by millions of dollars.
The extent of the peoples invest
ment in forms of individual transpor-
tation in Ohio, in comparison with
money put into new roads of adequate
width and strength, is seen at a
glance in motor vehicle registration
With approximately 100000 cars re
gisterde, there is an investment Of
$700,000,000 over twice as much a;
the combined investment in electri
railways in which Ohio leads all othel
States. Computing the carrying
capacity of motor vehicles in Ohio
every man, woman and child could b.
transported out of that State ovel
night, fact which illustrates how
far the motor vehicle form of trans
portation has advanced.
But in the fact of a $700,000,000 in
vestment in vehicles, there is les:
than $3,000,000 year going into new
construction on road surfaces. At thu
same time, repair bills on loosely
constructed roads, built under thu
theory that they are less expensive
haYe, in the past twelve months, con
sumed nearly $9,000,000.
! Director Herrick's stand for heavier
construction on main routes as the
only way to make Ohio roads carr
their cost and upkeep is being watch
ed with interest, as having a lessor
to tax payers in other States.
! The Common Pleas Court has beer
busy place for the past two weeks