Evening star., 1924-06-08
South America to Build Roads
Visit of Delegates to u S. Has Great Significance
at Present.

see the result of careful planning for
the heavier automobile traffic of the
future, and they will witness what
the lack OF preparedness in failure to
provide suitable highways will do tn
retard the growth of development of
a normal community. In each state
the delegates will be welcomed by
the governors and put in charge Of
state highway engineers. who will
show what each state is doing in
| developing its part of a great system
or federal highways. The delegates
Will see how the United States gov
ernment can spend S75,0o0,000 annu-
ally in cooperating with the states.
They will have pointed out to them
the federal policy. which requires, be-
fore state receives it's quota OF
road-building funds, the building of
highways to connect with those OF
neighboring states; built not 50 much
to provide comfortable surface for
travel, but built so that the cost OF
the road will not outbalance the
roads earning capacity.
After their inspection of the coun-
try's road building and highway traf-
fic problems the delegates will be
shown some of the great automobile
plants of Michigan and the rubber in
dustries of Ohio. And after a few
days rest and recuperation at Allan
tic City the delegates will sail for
home to try to convince their govern
ments that the United States knows
how to build roads, nd its prof1tinG
from its knowledge.
Value of Exchange of Ideas.
Those in this country interested in
the visit Of the Latin American dele
cation see a real significance in this
exchange of ideas and the action Of
the highway education board in its
practical effort to allow others TO
gain from its experience. Secretary
of State Hughes, in welcoming the
delegates to Washington last week.
pointed out that all the questions
which hitherto have been obstacles
to the closest friendship between
the American nations are being set
tied through the orderly processes OF
conference, accommodation and arbi-
tration. 1t has come TO be no longer
a question of eliminating matters OF
difference, he told the delegates, but
rather of developing positive pclcN
through which the best thought and
experience of every Anne rican nation
will be available to all. This he SAID
was a true spirit of constructive Pan
Anne rica nism.
And the United States is frankly in
terested in the Betterment of means
of communication and transportation
in South America. Highway con
struction opens the way for enlarglnc
the markets of South America, but II
accomplisheS as much for the Jnlted
States. With such enlar cement comes
general economic advance. and the
United States has every reason 10
desire the economic progress OF her
neighbor republics. There is no need
for concern when they prosper. for
prosperity means that the resources
of the world are being developed;
that this country can get Its needed
supplies and, in turn, can find mar
ket for its products. Should the visit
of the Latin American delegates
hasten the construction of good roads
in South America it Will mean the
purchase of machinery and supplies
in the United States. as well the
ere alton of new and potentially
large market for automobile products-
What Brazil Would Gain.
Brazil offers good example of the
opportunity and need for a con-
structive program of highway con-
struction in South America. Brazil
is larger than the United States by
100000 square miles. 1t has neither
the deserts nor the mountain areas
which render large sections OF the
United States unavailable for culti-
walton. 1t has superb waterways and
| fine harbors. The Amazon is navlsa-
BILE for 2,i00 miles. The country al
re adv has 17.s41 miles of railroad.
But only the land near the rivers
and railroads is populated. High
ways will bring vast new territories
into communication and open tneir
resources to development. While
Brazil is typical. the mines of Mexico
and Uruguay. the products Of the
Central American states are being
developed to a fraction of their pos
sibilities. Intensive transportation Is
their outstanding need.