Evening star., 1924-01-20
GOOD ROADS ISSUE
UP TO MOTORISTS
How Network of Highways
~ Shall Be Used Stated as
New Problem.

Determining how the modern net
ork OF good roads shall be used Is
the new problem for organized motor
lists, in the opinion of officials OF the
National Motorists Association. This
Sas the view expressed yesterday by
Executive Secretary Fred II. Galley,
who added:
I'VE are turning the entire power
of our organization upon the PROB
lem OF making the roads of the coun-
Try serve the motorist in the most
satisfactory manner. Now that we
are getting the roads we have been
fighting for. the next step is to keep
them
The National Motorists Association
program outlined for 1924 in con-
nection with this subject, 1t was
pointed out, is the result or a re-
quest put at the recent annual meet
ttg by Judge walter D. Meals, presi-
dent Of the organization.
Views es Judge Quoted.
.Tudro Meals said:
Public sentiment today Is such
that the fight for good roads that has
been made has been won. The great
problem of the future will be in the
Use of them and the maintenance OF
them: and the work of automobile
tfubs, as / conceive 1t. from now for
ward will be to see to 1t that the
many millions OF dollars that have
been expended in this country. and
Wul be hereafter expended in the
Improvement of roads. are not wasted
and lost through misuse or failure to
keep in repair the roads that have
-heen built"
= According to Secretary Galley. one
uf the biggest problems in connec-
,tion with the use of the roads is the
proper regulation of the motor truck
nut feature of the National Motor
tSts' Association work along these
lines, he explains. is that ii will be
rarried on in cooperation with truck
Manufacturers and motor vehicle
Authorities of the various states.
e Instead of getting out and bucking
the truck manufacturers. as too
many people and organizations are
attempting to do" Galley said, our
policy is to get out and cooperate
With them and have them cooperate
with US to bring about conditions
That motorists and the public in gen.
Erai want. That is the way to get
L.3sults.
g.. Sees Chance for "ResuIts."
Il think we can get results from
the sign posting concerns II we will
nroceed along the same liberal lines.
Rillboards along the highways are.
FOR the most part. nuisance and
menace, but nothing can be accom-
pIished by attempting arbitrarily TO
force the advertiser of the roads.
- The motorfst can DO more-to safe-
guard his roads and make them more
useful if. through his organization.
lie viii endeavor to show the bill
board people and the manufacturers
that advertising that ieopardizes the
1lotorist is not advertising n all. but
sales resistance of the most power
ful kind.
The automobile driver who rams
another car because L billboard OBJ
scured his view of the road ahead is
not likely to regard the advertiser
with business producing respect. Con-
ditions of the main highways are
such that the driver must give his
full attention to the matter Of oper-
ating the car, and any thought ne
may give to advertising IS decidedly
secondary.
The National Motorists Associa-
-ion hopes in presenting the matter
trying to gain the motorists's atten-
Uon when he is driving VIII be evil
dent. When an. advertiser attracts
drivers attention All accident Is
usually the result, not a sale.
Accidents Minimlzed.
"Co-operation with the railroads is
resulting in minimizing grade-cross-
result of the efforts of the Long Is
land Automobile club and the Auto
mobile Club of New York. working
in conjunction with city officials and
the representatives of the good roads
board Of the National Motorists
Association. The investigation re-
vealed the fact that cooperation with
the railroads had not been previously
considered seriously. Yet it Is this
very cooperation from which there
Ia every hope that big results will
be obtained.
THE National Motorists Associa-
tion intends proceeding along liberal
lines in attacking this problem OF
road use, because it Is the biggest
problem the motorist has on his
hands and because the subject
touches upon 50 many interests as to
render cooperation the only feasible
way Of obtaining results"