The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1925-10-29
GOOD
ROADS
HIGHWAYS MUST BE
BUILT FOR FUTURE

biles and trucks in this country does
not depend upon the ability of the
American people to buy more automo-
biles and trucks. but upon the capac-
ity Of our roads to accommodate the
more than 100000 motor vehicles
now being driven, and the additional
number being produced and sold. To
provide room on our highways for
this vast number of automobiles and
trucks, there is only one solution
more roads and wider roads. To meet
this problem, paved roads have come
to stay.
Both drivers and pedestrians have
experienced congested, impossible
roads. Not only paved roads, but un-
paved roads are inadequate for pres
ent needs. There is no economy in
cheap, unpermanent construction.
Such roads are deceptive. We deceive
ourselves into thinking that we will
build permanence when we have more
money, when our governmental ex-
penses are less, when our revenues
are greater But in the meantime we
spend vast sums for repairs that per-
ish, for maintenance that mounts
daily, for transportation costs far in
excess Of the amount we would spend
In the long run for permanent con-
struction in the beginning.
We collect and spend millions Of
dollars in the construction of roads.
In 1924 this country spent approx
mately $165. 100000 in the construc-
ton of concrete roads alone. Addi-
tional millions were used for roads of
less permanent character. If these
huge appropriations are to be handled
wisely, we must plan for roadways
which will not have to be relocated,
which will not make purchase of new
rights-of-way necessary, we must
build bridges which will carry future
traffic, and pavements which will stay
laid no matter how congested the traf-
fc becomes, no matter how heavy the
loads imposed upon them, and no mat
ter how ruthless the passing seasons.
The pressing need for more and
wider paved roads has grown with in
creasing rapidity. No part of the
country is immune from the problems
of motorized traffic. Everyone bene-
fits from road improvements if these
improvements are permanent = the
motor vehicle owner, the merchant,
the manufacturer. the farmer. 1t has
been said that those who use the roads
should shoulder the burden of their
construction and maintenance. But
| this idea is fallacious. The problem
goes deeper than that Every mem
Der of a community benefits in some
way from paved roads, and hence the
financial burden should be assumed
by the entire community.
Larger and more evenly distributed
yearly trade follows the paved road;
outside money flows in over the easy
pathway of the paved road, and the
community prospers. Property values
advance, and products of the farm,
daily accessible to market, bring high
er prices.
Owners of motor vehicles come into
direct contact with the roads they
are paying for. They see miles of
x,
slowing down. And for this there is
little need Such conditions exist
only because we have been building
for the present and not for the fu-
ture.
Many counties and states are facing
this problem with open eyes. No
sooner is road paved than traffic
seeks out that road and fills it from
curb to curb. 1t is the same every
where. The paved road, as we know
1t today, does not relieve traffic. Rath-
er 1t is a magnet which attracts to
itself ever increasing numbers of mo-
tor vehicles. For the 100000 cars
which are registered in this country
today, there are but $4,000 miles Of
hard-surface road available for travel.
More than $40 cars to the mile. one
car every Is feet If strung single file
along the roads. And every one of
these 100000 car owners Is seek
ing these few miles Of hard-surfaced
roads. Less favorable roads may be
there, but they are deserted.
These roads are sought because of
the known and definite advantages of
travel over their even surface. We
need more and wider paved roads and
we will build them; but they must
be paid for. AS Melvin A. Traylor.
president of the First National bank
of Chicago, said in his address to the
forty-ninth annual convention of the
American Bankers association aOur
mounting debt may be tremendous, the
taxes we pay may be burdensome, but
is the debt out of proportion to our
wealth and our ability to pay? Much
of our recent debt has been for good
roads. In most parts of the country
these cost in the neighborhood of $685.
600 mile. but they add immediate
Increased value of $40 to $25 per acre
to every foot Of land they traverse,
wy n TV.1