Evening star., 1925-04-21
SATURAT|ON POINT
NAUTOS HELDNE
Gov. TrinkIe Sees Problem in
Financing Roads, He Tells
Highway Body.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
HOUSTON, Tex, April 21.-Every
mile of good road built is but an ap-
petizer for a more urgent demand ito
build other miles, Gov. E. Lee Trinkle
of Virginia today told the convention
of the United States Good Roads AS
sociation, of which he is president.
Gov. Trinkle pointed out that nearly
5000 900 miles of good roads had been
built in this country, with 2,5oO,00O
miles yet to be improved.
c.. G.. Dickinson of Santa Monica,
Calf. another speaker, said paved
highway had become an economic
asset
The convention is to hold through
Friday.
Gov. Trinkle said the last official
figures showed 2,941 900 miles of
good roads in the country, built at
a cost of 81 ,03S, 100000 and that the
number of motor cars and trucks in
use today aggregated more than
$1,000 900, or 6 to every mile of high
way and about one to each 1000 feet
of road.
Financing Is Problem.
Two and one half million miles are
vet to be improved. he said, which
presents financial problem to the
country never before known in its
history"
He advanced the suggestion that
the saturation point in the sale of
autu mobiles is approaching and, turn
ing to a discussion of a tax on gaSo-
line as revenue producer for good
roads, indicated that the prog,
Tess of science might produce fuel
for internal combustion engines
cheaper than gasoline.
MesSa ges from President Calvin
Coolidge, William NJ. Jardine, Secre-
tary of Agriculture, and other widely
known personages, including govern
orS of 16 States, were read at the
opening of the convention last night.
with more than 7500. 900 motor
vehicles now in use on our roads, "
Secretary Jardine's message said,
there can be no question of the ne
cessity for continued aggressive activ-
ity in road improvement"
Worth All They Cost.
All of the Investigations made by
the Department of Agriculture, he
added, present the most convincing
evidence that the improved roads are
we'll worth all they cost.
Messages of good will and assurance
of cooperation were read from the
governors of Georgia, South Carolina,
North Carolina, Wyoming, Vermont,
Nevada, West Virginia Tennessee,
New York, oregon, Colorado, Arizona,
Nebraska, Kentucky, Oklahoma. Cali
fornia and Arkansas. Addresses of
welcome included one by Gov. Miriam
A. Ferguson.
Responses were made by Benehan
Cameron of Raleigh, n. c., president
of the Bankhead National Highway
Association, which is to hold session
Thursday in connection with the con-
vention, and by Gov. w. w. Brandon
of Alabama, vice president of the
United States Good Roads Associa-
ton.
Southern States, said Gov. Brandon,
must unite in linking their highways
so far as the Federal highway plan is
concerned, and that from East to
West, from North to South, there
should be a uniform plan.
when the State and Federal gov
ernments have united on this general
plan" he said, then the State gov
ernments from the proceeds of gas
oline tax should connect county seats
with good roads, and along with 1t
give the farmer an opportunity to
carry his product to market by build
ing lateral roads leading to the Fed
eral highways"
The delegation this afternoon will
visit San Jacinto battlefield, about 20
miles from Houston, where Texas won
her independence from Mexico.