The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-04-18
BUILDING
SHOULD GO ON,
GROUP STATES
Auto Association Warns
Against Lull in Highway
Construction

Washington, d. c., April ID
Americas present highway system
far surpasses anything the world
has ever known, embracing more
than 100000 miles Of surfaced roads
threading their way with imposing
effect into all parts Of the country.
Marvellous as this achievement is, 1t
embraces a subtle danger that motor
lists and others should be warned
against, according to Il statement is
sued today by National Headquar
tiers Of the American Automobile AS
| ISOLATION.
That danger, the statement says.
is the temptation to become salts
flied with the present situation, to
| regard the present nard-surfaccd
| highway mileage as sufficient for the
| Nations needs.
! "Thc public and the public Of
| fetal must realize constantly that
the time when it may rest upon it's
oars in the matter of highway build
ing is far, far in the future the
statement quotes Thos. p. Henry.
president Of the national motoring
agency. "Our progress in road build
ing has been remarkable. But, if
the fine promise Of the automobile
for even further strengthening the
economic fabric OF America is to be
realized fully. we must make even
more remarkable progress"
| Road Mileage Not Ample
l The millions of motor tourists arc
peculiarly susceptible to the temp
tation to regard the present road
mileage as ample if they limit their
travel to the more progressive Sec
tions of the country, the A. A. A.
points out. On this subject, Mr.
Henry says:
1T is true that, in greater or
smaller degree. a vast majority OF
Americas 100000 motor car own
ers go in for touring. This driving
in the main, is confined to the bcs,
mileage Of the more than 100000
miles Of highway that exist in the
United States. Because of this fact
the motorist is likely to judge the
whole highway system by that par
Of it over which he travels.
1T is the old story Of judging thu
j. box Of Strawberries by the large
luscious fruit on the top. Just a:
the berry buyer regrets his purchase
when his error is discovered, SO Thu
motor car owner eventually will be
moan his bad judgment if he as
: sumcs the national highway system
to be perfect because his touring ha
- been confined to the best Of tn
roads. 1t is a mental trap into whic
!. one easily may fall unless one
g wary Of the danger Of its presence.
America has enormous floor spac
and tremendous resources in the im
- portant matters Of finance and ger
!, Jus and the automobile needs incrcas
v / soh To f,,1
its promise, the statement continue
Thus. it says, while the need
}! present, the means by which it ma
be met also arc available.
T. Must BE Alert
Bringing the two together" NJ
4, Henry says, "is a matter of constal
y alertness, constant realization tn,
the need for expansion exists. TIL
task does not belong to the few ia
sighted individuals among public o
e. ficials and motor club executive
It is one for the multitude.
5 "For this reason, no motori
should allow himself to regard tt
highway system as adequate mere
r because it provides him, PERSONAL
with sufficient good hard-surfac
mileage. There are millions in {
parts of the country whose aut
mobile travel still Is confined large
to muddy. rutty, almost impassab
roads. In addition, there is CO
vincing evidence even in our lar
cities and contiguous territory tn
the automobile rapidly outgro
what may appear to be more tn
sufficient network Of good stree
and highways.
"Thus, there is M dearth of da
to prove the necessity for consta
expansion Of our street and highw
-, systems. It clearly is the duty
everyone to give the good roa
thought q more aggressive quality
stead Of allowing it to grow torpi