The Washington times., 1925-08-26

~ UCl"0cH IlSILOSIS VI TIC ANILlOio
al Automobile Chamber OF Com
merce in the past ten years.
To indicate the broad policy Of
ers, few month ago, voted to al
most double their own dues but
without increasing the dues of the
small producers-all to the end that
the whole industry may be kept
healthy, each manufacturer thus
getting a share of the business to
which his enterprise and merit of
his product entities him.
We have 122 standards on motor
cars
Our big manufacturers freely in.
vite one another to go through their
plants. We cooperate on the ethics
Of advertising and on constructive
lines for broader markets and the
more efficient use of motor cars.
We have had controversies as to
whether, the motor car made the
highway business prosperous or
whether the building Of highways
made the automobile business pros
porous.
All Roads Helped.
The appeal for dirt roads, gravel
roads, or any type of roads which
will carry traffic, is not without its
compensation for those like yourself,
who are interested chiefly in high
type surfaces.
Broadly speaking, we are for any
kind of roadway that will care for
the traffic required Of it, appreciat-
ing, OF course, the big advantages
of cement highway on which the
unlS0nn &c little nys Tnfhino
Whenever we have not been in ac-
cord with you it has been only be-
cause OF an honest difference of
opinion. We are working more
closely all the time. With our great
number of motor cars, we have
asked for highways of all kinds,
always approaching that the cement
road, if people can meet its first
cost. is the best in the long run. In
many cases, however, municipalities
are unable to afford cement and are
obliged to build other types of road,
particularly in those sections where
the traffic does not warrant the In
creased cost.
On the other hand, we highly ap-
PROBATE the great advantages of
cement. and where traffic requires
and funds permit. we strongly favor
the. laying Of that type.
However. remember the motor in
dustry. For a long time there were
many who thought that the low
priced car would take all the bust
ness. We know better now.
Give q man a good low priced
car and in year or so he and his
family become prospects for bet
ter ona..
Classification Desirable.
Today we are seeking to protect
highways by regulation which
gives the State highway department
the right to enforce reasonable re.
strictions during periods of wealth
err strain or other unfavorable con-
ditions.
This is a necessary precaution
particularly desirable when 1t i'm
poses drastic penalties for over.
loading which causes most of the
damage done by vehicles.
1T is not desirable If through
arbitrary limitations 1t prevents
the full use of a highway designed
to carry heavy loads and the pub
lie suffers in consequence.
Traffic surveys are now being
made as matter Of course before
State highways are improved.
Would 1t not be we'll to study
the main channels of traffic, clas.
sify them and build them to the
economic needs?
Such roads will necessarily be a
small fraction Of the total mileagae
but a very important one from the
standpoint Of volume Of traffic.
Other roads might then be
studied and classified into two or
| three systems, the maximum load
to be permitted after improvement,
| in each case to be determined by
the potential tonnage needs Of the
communities served.
The highway problem invoices
such large expenditures, with such
large returns to the public. that
| there is every necessity for sound
policies in administration and ii
| nance.
| Your industry and ours have a
| genuine public responsibility here.