San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-29
FEDERAL ROAD
AID VITAL
To NATION
Future Of Car Industry
Hinges on Completion
Of Program.

The support of the organized mo-
tors of the country as well as of
the manufacturers of motor vehicles for
the continuation of the federal aid
policy of the government was pledged
in incorporating terms at the clos
ing banquet of the American Associa-
ton of Highway Officials in session
at Detroit.
Thomas p. Henry, president of the
American Automobile Association,
sounded the keynote of the gathering
Of road makers, automobile users and
manufacturers, when he declared that
the continuation Of federal aid on an
undiminished scale is vital to the well
fare of the nation as a whole. On the
completion of the good road program
on which the country has launched,
Mr.. Henry said, hinges the future of
the automotive industry and the fu-
ture of highway transportation.
PLEDGE INFLUENCE.
The occasion for this declaration on
behalf of the organized motorists was
the banquet rendered to the American
Association of Highway Officials by
the American Automobile Association
and the National Automobile Chamber
of Commerce. On behalf of the man.
ufacturers of motor vehicles ROY D..
Chaplin Of Detroit, vice president of
the National Automobile Chamber of
Commerce, and George NJ. Graham of
Cleveland, chairman of the traffic and
| safety committee Of the chamber, in
dorsed the position taken by President
Henry and pledged the influence of the
automotive industry for the federal air
program.
At the same time, testimony to the
vital interest of the government in the
continuation of federal appropriations
for road building was voiced by ii. H.
Billeny, fourth assistant postmaster
general, who told the road makers, the
manufacturers and the users of auto
mobiles that he was speaking expressly
for the postoffice department.
AIDS NATION.
mo single expenditure by the
government in recent years." said
Mr.. Billanv, has so contributed to
the wealth, progress and welfare of
the United States as the 615 mil
lion dollars appropriated by the Con-
gress to aid the improvement of
roads throughout the country"
The president of the A. A. A. paid
\ particular attention to conditions in
the western states and urged what
| is needed is more liberal govern
| mcnt policy as regards road support
from the government in those states
having large areas of public lands
within their borders.
Federal aid" he said, ais absolute
~ imperative TO fill the large gaps in
the transcontinental highways. They
are needed to unity the nation and
to weld it into a homogeneous whole.
Nowhere is more to be gained by
highway improvement than in the
west, and there is evidence of their
appreciation of this fact in the ex-
| penditures per capita which these
western states annually apply to high
ways and which are not equalled in
any other part of the country"
NOTE OF WARNING.
Mr.. Henry, speaking for the or
ganized motorists, and Chaplin for
the automobile industry warned the
road makers that it behooves every
one to pay heed to the recent sugges-
ton made by President Coolidge 10
the effect that federal funds should
be expended on interstate and primary
highways only.
at seems to me that no real friend
Of federal aid will contest the wis
dom of the proposition laid down by
the President of the United States, I"
Mr.. Henry said.