Evening star., 1924-05-01
HIGHWAY BUILDING
BEGUN ON BIG SCALE
Greatest Annual Period of Con-
struction Country Has Ever
Known Inaugurated.
By n. C. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch to Tho Star.
NEW YORK. May 1.-The greatest
annual period of highway construc-
tion this country has ever known
really got under way today. May l
marked the opening of work in a
score of states, both on the country
roads and on city streets. Highway
construction in 1924 probably will
get into the billion dollar class Of
industries The amazing activity Of
this road construction is giving
work directly to hundreds of thous-
ands of men and its effect is felt by
the entire business world as we'll as
those engaged in the equipment and
supply business.
The Portland Cement Association
reports that the awards for concrete
highway construction in the first
part of this year surpassed all pre-
vious records. Approximately 10000
600 square yards, or 1.200 miles of
concrete highway eighteen feet wide.
were placed under contract the first
three months of the year. In addition
425 miles of city streets have been
ordered paved with concrete. These
figures do not include the 125 miles of
contracts which were carried over
from 1928 when cold weather put a
stop to outdoor work.
Many Miles of Gravel Roads.
Thousands of miles of gravel high
ways and roads formed CT other ma
terials than concrcto are being built
today throughout the country. State
and federal officials are cooperating z
with officials Of the various trail as
Sociations and with cement company
heads, and ali say the volume of con-
struction will be Unprecedented.
Demands of motorists who now oXv
ceed 100000 passenger and truck
owners in this country are forcing
the program. How urgent this de-
mand for good roads has become may
be estimated by the fact that Califor-
MIA alone expects more thar 100000
automobiles will cnS.a. the state this
year from outside points. Last year
10000 cars were registered from out
side the state. an increase OF 1S5 per
cent over 1922.
State officials in CallfcrIlia estimate
that each of these visiting cars con-
tain three persons on the average and
that they stay in the state about thir-
ty days and spend at least $40 a day
for each party. on this basis. the mo-
toring tourists will leave $4,000. 900
in California this year and a proper
tionate amount in the states through
which they pass.
Magnificent Investment.
CaIifornians declare that the 1000
miles of paved highways in the state
have been a magnificent investment.
There are 100000 cars registered in
the state and these have brought new
settlers The good roads connecting e
various parts of the commonwealth
have led to quick upbuilding of coun-
try sections
Transcontinental traffic is assum-
ing large proportions. Last year
400 New York cars made the trip
across the country to the Pacific coast.
Illinois sent 1896 cars to California,
while Iowa Kansas and Michigan
were represented by similar numbers.
Each year the transcontinental
highways are becoming better and
1924 will be marked by the openin G
of the Victory highway between New
York and San Francisco.
In spite of all this activity, however,
only small proportion of the country S
roads have been improved. A survey
shows that there are approximately
$4,000 miles of highways Of all
classes in the United States.