Evening star., 1925-09-03

President Coolidge has written 10
the United States delegates 10 the
Pan-American Congress of Highways
in anticipation Of the early session of
that body Of representatives Of all
countries OF this hemisphere. to take
place in Buenosr Aires. The President
spoke of the influence Of highways in
linking together the nations. as they
have linked communities within the
several countries, and he added.
Il look forward hopefully 10 the
time when, through the efforts of the
delegates to these pan-American con-
ferences. the two continents of North
and South America Will be united in
physical fact as they today are united
by bonds of mutual friendship and
good will 3"
There is nothing known to dipIo-
macy which has a tithe of the influ-
ence Of direct acquaintance in keeping
the international peace and maintain
ing cordial relations. 1t may seem
that highways to be used by motor
vehicles, rather than railroads, could
hardly affect the purpose of interna-
tional commerce so effectualIy as
steam railroads. but a remark yes
ferday of an official in the Government
" no has given much attention TO traf-
f1c problems may throw light upon
time was coming when street cars on
rails would be abandoned and all
urban transport of that kind would
be carried in motor cars. Further
more, the President indicates the evo-
luton of transportation by sug
sesting the Importance of greater
facilities for airplane traffic in
freight and passenger service. 1t is
but A few years ago when advanced
L.
urging farm communities to Law rail
tracks along the highways and gauge
all farm wagons to the rails. Argu-
ments We're made based upon the re-
duction Of traction power needed for
such tramways as compared with the
best of macadam roads. In Mexico
and in some parts Of the United
States such tramways were in opera
ton, and a single mule or horse pulled
the equivalent of a double team.
That practice has been wholly super.
seeded by motor trucks and passenger
automobiles; and even the great
steam trunk" lines are feeling the
serious inroads of the gas engine and
the balloon tire and the concrete high
way, in both passenger and freight
traffic, and may soon add another
rival in air navigation.
In the case OF street cars il is
pointed out that the cars block traf-
fic, cause accidents at crossings and
are unable to land their passengers
at the curbs, as do the motor busses.
The official of the Roads Bureau
pointed out that the street car mana
gers were recognizing the trend of
modern motor bus development by
using such methods themselves in
stead OF projecting feeder lines Of
costly tracks. Just as the coming Of
electric power in place of mules so or
40 years ago was welcomed by pro-
Gressive street car companies, so. he
thought. will be the development of
motor busses and the abandonment of
tracks. If such is true of cities is It
wholly inapplicable to interstate and
international commerce?
X <
The revolution in country high.
ways. due to the automobile, has
not been realized except by the en-
gineers engaged in road development.
Until about 80 years ago all country
| roads were built exclusively 10 suit
the needs of farmers in hauling their
crops to market and in driving with
horse and buggy to town TO get their
mail and provisions. Even farmers
| seldom used a road farther than 10
miles from nome, ana TO tne QWeller
| in cities, especially large cities, the
| country was terra incognito. City
folks almost never drove for pleasure
over the pixies and dirt roads. Roads
were local concerns, built by local
taxes, as they were for the exclusive
| benefit of local users.
Within the last 10 years the Bu-
reau of Roads of the Department of
Agriculture has been working under
| the Federal highway act co-operat-
| ing with State road officials. who. in
| turn, cooperate with county officials.
! When a road is only of local con
| cern it is built by the county com
missioners. but nearly all roads now
are parts of State systems, and the
| State helps pay for their construc-
| ton and maintenance. Similarly. all
roads OF Importance are parts of in