Evening star., 1922-10-23
AUT0|STS T0PUSH
NATIONAL ROADS
Conference in Washington
Soon to Be of Unusual =
Importance.
EDUCATION A FACTOR
Schools and Colleges to Be Prd Z
vided With Information on
Subject.

Motorists of the nation will sit in
Washington soon through accredit-
/ ed representatives of the American
Automobile Association in one of the
most important conferences ever
| staged in motordom. Briefly, the
| meeting is to be one in which all
persons interested in good roads will
participate. The meeting is to be
held from October 26 to %, inclusive.
under auspices of the highway edu-
| cation board. Of which the federal
commissioner of education. John ].
Tfgert. is chairman. The object of
the meeting Is to further methods of
constructing good and durable roads
at minimum cost to the states and ma
tion.
This great work can best be accom-
plished, in the opinion of the board.
through a campaign Of education con-
Quoted by schools and colleges In
eQuipping the newest of the engineer
ing professionals, the highway engt-
seeking to bring together the college
professor and the practical highway
engineer, the motorist and the road
builder. the manufacturer and the
highway official, and from the meet
ing skim the cream of suggestions
engineering now taught in about ITO
educational institutions.
No Guiding Precedence.
There is no precedent OF yesterday
to guide these institutions. Road
building in its present gigantic scale
Is new to the world. The textbook
Of today may be obsolete tomorrow.
To meet these conditions and to sat
isfy the greatest need Of the engi-
}cff fodo q
clearing house of ideas has been pro-
mulgated.
Among the delegates to the con-
vention. will be George C. Diehl. presi-
dent; H. G. Shirley. chairman good
roads board, and M. o. Eldridge, ex-
Autompbile Association. Mr.. Diehl.
with others. will speak for the mo-
torists of America. He will under
take to tell the meeting what the
motorist wants and expects in the
building of highways.
II should appreciate the best
thought and suggestions OF auto
mobilists from every section of the
United States In order that l may be
thoroughly equipped to present all
phases of the motorists case" Mr..
Diehl said today. ITO that end. I
should appreciate hearing from the
automobile clubs Of the country and
suggestions should be sent promptly
to our Washington office, as there is
but little time before the conference
meets.
Greatest Highway Scheme
I'VE are engaged now in a great
scheme Of highway construction. The
federal-aid highway system alone
contenlplates work for the next fif-
teen or twenty years. When COM
nd haf tor, mo
900 miles of improved highways.
stretching into every section of the
United States. The states themselves
have great road-building programs.
They probably will construct another
100000 miles during the same period.
build those roadways. The combined
cost of the two systems will ap-
proach $6,000,000.000. How can we
best train the engineers? What
kinds of roadways best suit our
needs?
How can roads be built to endure
at minimum expense of construction?
In other words, how can the road
builder and the engineer. within the
limitations of the money they have
to spend and the materials with
which they must work, best aid the
vantages of new and improved sys-
tenn Of highways?
There are now more than 10.600,-
900 motorists in the United States.
If each one were to take to the road
at the same time. their cars. end to
end. would make q line more than
10000 miles long. The line grows
fast and we want to provide ample
roadways OF the best possible con-
struction to afford them greatest
comfort and a maximum of road
room. I should like to hear from
these motorists and see what they
hovo m ay,00eSf