Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-24
BY WILLIAM ULLMAN,

The motorists dream Of seeing a
hard.Surfaced highway leading off from
nearly every bend in the road Is not
likely to come true for many. many
years. So say the road experts, &C.
cording to whom it is better, after
certain point is reached, to increase
the capacity of existing highways
than to lay down new ones.
1t is the present aim of highway en-
gineers to complete the construction
of approximately 100000 miles Of sur
faced roads and then to direct their
efforts chiefly to increasing the ira.
f1c.carrying capacity of roads in ex
istence. This is the trend as stated by
experts of the United States Bureau
of Public Roads.
Highway construction is not a ques-
ton Of simply building more and more
hard.surfaced roads," declares one Of
these experts, ''but rather is a ques.
ton OF having enough roads to take
care of the volume of traffic which
passes over them. At present there
are slightly more than 100000 miles
Of roads of all kinds in the United
States, excluding city streets, and no
one will dispute the fact that for the
present this number is sufficient for
our needs.
Same Routes Travelled.
"As to surfaced roads, 10 years ago
we needed more highways than we
now have. The popularity of the
motor vehicle grew so rapidly and
touring gained such general favor
that the demand for surfaced roads
soon exceeded the supply. Since then
building has been going ahead speed
lily in an effort to catch up with the
need. When the present goal has
been reached, highway builders will
be able to breathe more freely"
Whether there are 100000 motor
cars distributed throughout the coun.
try, as there were in 1921. or whether
there are $4,000, 900 motor cars, as at
present, the heaviest part Of the traf-
fic will be going to the same places,
1t is pointed out, so that the chief OBJ
ject is to provide good roads leading
to those places where the traffic goes.
The need, therefore, does not fall
upon the construction of new roads,
those that are planned capable of
handling this greater density of traf-
fic, it is explained.
Our present highway programs
are not based upon the actual need.
but upon the economic possibility of
obtaining the necessary men, money
and materials for the work, without
injuring other necessary activities.
both public and private" a bureau
expert explains. 'In some States the
tendency has been to build too much
highway mileage at the expense of
schools, courts and other public un-
dertakings. This policy is a direct
injury to the progress Of the COM
monwealth.
Need Still Great.
1.-THE need for improved highways
has been and still is so great that
the money actually lost in operation
over poor roads would more than
pay for good roads. This, however, Is
a necessary evil, as 1t Is impractical
BILE to upset the labor market or un'
duly increase taxes"
In 1921, it is shown, there were
387,760 miles of surfaced roads. in the
United States, and by the end OF
1925 this figure had increased to APP
pro1imately 100000 miles. OF the
total 100000 miles Of roads there
are 100000 or so which, because OF
the lightness Of their traffic, never
will require surfacing.
Many Of these roads are wagon
paths running along section lines.
while others may not have q single