Evening star., 1925-07-19

- NE must go DdCh 10 tne not
distant days of the bicycle
craze" and the bicycle built
~ for two" to reach the source
of the first widespread agita-
ZION in the United States for improved
highways. Better roads were needed
for the Centuries" and other long
runs in which numerous bicycle clubs
INDUCED during the early days OF the
present century.
The motor vehicle, coming immedi-
ately after, found the way prepared
for the good roads movement, which
has resulted in a national network or
180, 600 miles Of Federal aid" roads.
which when completed will connect
practically every city and town OF
5000 or more Inhabitants in the United
States. Ninety per cent of the Ma
tion's population will live within ten
miles Of such arteries OF travel. while
substantially all of the remaining 10
per cent will be within that distance
OF a State road linking up with the
other highways.
Never before has the world seen
such a peaceful revolution" as that
which has been brought to its eco
nomic and social life by the automo-
bile. Statistics showing figures run
ming into the billions yearly for eI-
penditures on motor vehicles. roads
IL
the story. international conferences
are being held to study the problem or
transportation. 1t was one OF the SUD
iects at the recent meeting in Brus-
sells of the International Chamoer OF
Commerce; 1t will be the sole topic De-
fore the First Pan-American Roao CON
gress, which is to meet IN Buenos
Aires next October; and an interna-
tional road congress is to be held at
Milan, Italy, next year.
Benefit To Farmer.
While the automobile and the motor
truck have become almost in"'~"ens-
able in the conduct Of business and
professional work in the city; while
approximately 100000 physicians in
the United States now visit their
patients by motor: and while touring
has become a movement of interna-
tional economic proportions and
millions of people now take their va
cations touring from one point to
another. it Is the American FARMER
who has been most strikingly anected
by the changes which the automobile
has brought.
OF the 17,500,000 motor cars and
trucks-one for every seven persons
in the United States-Government
estimates place the number on the
farms at 100000: and as there are
6 500, 900 farms in the country. II Will
be seen that the percentage OF farm
ers owning automobiles and trucks Is
many times above the average. The
development of motor transportation
has revolutionized the life of the farm.
1t has brought the town and country
I into closer touch. 1t has to con-
siderable degree destroyed the historic
isolation of the farm and the farmer.
Buenos Aires Conference.
"The automobile has been perhaps
the greatest single new productive
force In the economic and social de-
velopment of the United States In
the past 25 years." says report
which will be presented by the United
States delegation to the Pan-Ameri-
can Road Congress in Buenos Aires.
With some additions the report Will
be the same as that prepared by the
American section for presentation to
the International Chamber of Com
! merce meeting in Brussels.
practically unknown when the
twentieth century began" the report
adds, individual transportation has
since added billions of dollars of
wealth to the Nations resources. In
1900 there were but few hundred
automobiles in the United States and