Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-30

r INCREASING popularity of the
automobile in Europe is giving
rise to a road building problem
II whose proportions are attaining
.~~eater scope and significance.
This is the keynote of the address
delivered by Thomas H. Macdonald,
director of the United States Bureau
of Public Roads, at the recent World
Motor Transport Congress in New
York City.
Indicating how conditions differ be-
tween Europe and the United States,
Mr.. Macdonald points out the belief
still prevailing abroad that the motor
car is somewhat of a luxury. Thls
condition he indicates, existed In this
country some years ago, but has been
overcome by the intensive populari-
cation of automobiles through placing
them within the reach OF many
millions.
Director Macdonald also empha-
sizes further differences Of n social
character which are stated as being
so far-reaching as to assume CON
siderable Importance. Such factors
are mentioned as the shifting OF larse
acreage from royal control 10 puoAc
enjoyment; long established customs
of walking into the country on non
DAYS and Sundays; the existence OF
farming villages in place CT lSoIaleo
farmhouses in the United States, ana
the encroa chment of private property
upon already narrow rights of way.
development Under Way.
The director sketches comprehen-
sivelv the fine old systems OF some
countries on which may be bullt ell
Cient modernized roads, ana lndlcates
that the highway development OF the
Old World is very definitely under
way.
The address Of Director Macdonald
follows:
'"That every country OF Europe
will experience great increases IN tne
number and use of motor VehlcleS -
more certainly indicated now imam
was the potential phenomenal CROWN
in this country a dozen years ago.
There are. however, so many radlcally
different conditions between the
United States and these other coun-
tries 81 rational characteristics anu
attitudes. of physical and hnanclai
consids. "a tions, and of trade relations
and existing antipathles, that any
direct statistical comparison IS IN
possible. An attempt thus TO esi,
mate probable rates of increase would
result only in error.
"Perhaps the visible evidence
would lead to conclusions that STOP
far short of what Is very sure TO
happen. Perhaps we can now reHleih-
Der with some chagrin that we more
or less predicted annually as mucn
as 10 years ago that the saturatlon
point had been reached IN TINS
country. Our general attitude then
pretty well expresses about the pre-
vailing thought in most of the con-
tinental nations Vet in France FOR
example, the sinister OF pubic
works reports 700 per cent increase
in automobiles dnce 1913, when loo,-
600 cars were IN circulation.
Taxes ID aerInines Luxury.
Thus. Just as with us. it seems
that this utility. this convenient IN
diyidllal TRANSPORTATION fills human
want and extends itself faster than
our reluctant imaginations consent
But even SO there are important
differences and conditions that are
very much worth while understanding
1.-THE motor vehicle, particularly
the private automobile, is. looked upon ,
generally as a luxury. We can easily
recall when this was true in this
country, and at that time taxes ana
living costs were lower. the huge
expenditures and waste OF human
lives and material resources through
war had not then occurred. Whlie
there is a very wide variation In the
taxes imposed, the rates in most OF
the continental countries place the
motor vehicle in the luxury ciass,
Perhaps the extreme is reached IN
Vienna, where the internal tax is
$21.50 per horsepower.
''As is generally known, the CONT
mental railways provide three classes
of accommodation at first, second ana
third class rates. The first class is.
bv our standards, relatively high, and
the third class very low. There i
much travel second class, for which
the accommodations are good but the
third class. with it's very low rates
appeals to the sense of economy and
the purse of a very large proportion
of those who wish to travel IraVel
by motor vehicle cannot compete 1T
cost with third-class fares on the rail-
roads-and the railroads very actively
strive for traffic.
Forests for Enjoyment,
Large holdings of forests and
parks, once the property of crowned
heads, have through revolution anc
change in government become PUBIC
properties where the people may en-
Joy their outings, and countless thou
sands do enjoy them within easy
walking distances Of their homes II
the big cities. Almost from the hear
or Paris stretches lHe "ooo0 VI
Bologna.
ION the outskirts of many of the
larger cities, Stockholm for example
there are extensive acreages set aside
for the use of the workmen. Herr
are hundreds of little almost play
houses of one room, scarcely more
but in the Summer season covered
with flowers and foliage, and eact
tiny farm overflows with garden Vege
fables, carefully attended and grow
sng in profusion. Here the workman
and his family spend a healthy an
profitable week end within a shof
distance of his home.
Again, here and there. we nm
preferential rates established on Tn
tramways at certain hours OF the DAY
established for the workman and pre-
sumably enjoyed by most or thos
who ride back and forth at thes
hours.
Bicycling Is Popular.
ain Germany, Denmark and othe
countries walking into the country
HOLIDAYS and Sundays takes on a
most the appearance OF an exouu
from the cities and t,wns. Bicycling
too, claims thousands INDUCING j
recreation or going about their pus
ness. ;,
Another condition that is very oil
ferent and very typical of so man
NJ these continental countries are IN
farming villages. In place OF on
isolated farmhouses surrounded .
extensive farm lands. the farm pop'
lation clusters in villages with the II