Evening star., 1928-01-01

SUPERHIGHWAY. extending

SCfEkdIGtNA w Az, eXtenuilll
~ from the Atlantic to the Pa
"A cific and capable of accommo
4 i dating four lanes of movin:
traffic, is being advocated 10y
Senator Coleman iu Pont of Delaware
in one Of a number of bills on the sub
ject of national highway improvement
that have been introduced by various
members since the Seventeen Con-
greSS convened.
There is pending in the new Con
greSs also the bill 10 insure continued
progress on the program OF Federai
aid TO the States for highway con
struction. which has been IN operation
since 1916 and under which network
OF cross-country arteries is being oe'
veloped.
Existing law aathorizes the regular
annual allotments of $.5.o0o.oo0 for
Federal aid highway building ana
$500, 900 for forest roads and trails
for the fiscal year l?cS-2s. 1t has be
come a policy. however. 10 have Con-
gress sanction these authorizations
two wears in advance OF actual appro'
priation, So that state highway de-
partments may have notice Of what
the Federal Government proposes Ia
do and prepare their State road
budgets accordingly.
Wants Policy Continued.
The American Association of State
Highway Officials, in convention in
October. urged that action be taken
at this session TO authorize the allot
ments for the fiscal years 1880 and
1891. A bill 10 accomplish that pur-
pose has been introduced by Repre-
sentative Dowell of Iowa.
Senator Phirps of Colorado. one of
the leading advocates of good roads
legislation in the upper branch of
Congress, believes there should be no
let-up in the Governments policy of
extending financial aid to the States
for road improvement. Senator Phipps
points out that in the 10-year period
from the beginning of this program
to last year Ill .6S1 miles of main high.
WAYS We're constructed or improved
with Federal aid.
These roads, he said. lead across
the country from the East to the
West, North TO the South. They
pass through the principal cities of
each State: they traverse the leading
agricultural communities: they go
from farm 10 market and from the
post Office TO the home. A 10-mile
zone marked off on each side of this
Federal aid system would include the
residences OF nine-tenths of our popu-
iation.''
!Aidsfo Agriculture.
Senator Phipps looks upon Federal
aid road work as an assistance TO agri-
culture as well as benefit to the
postal service in the delivery OF rural
mail.
The du pont proposal for a central
sup@rhighMay going as directly as
possible across the country is a sep
arate and distinct project from the
regular program of Federal aid to the
States for road construction. While
such a highway would be a facility
for the army OF Americans who mo.
tor across their country every year.
Senator du Pont believes IL would be
OF benefit 10 the postal service in
time OF peace and an important fac.
tor Of national defense in an emer.
geney.
The bin would set up q commission
composed Of the Secretaries Of War.
Agriculture, Treasury and Commerce
the Postmaster General and six indi.
vi6uals appointed by the President to
report to Congress plan for the pro-
posed central highway with an esti.
mate OF the total cost. Senator du
Pont believes the revenue derived
from rental Of the unused portion Of
the right Of way would meet the cost
of upkeep and eventually provide a
balance TO be deposited in the Treas.
nry toward repaying the cost Of con.
struction.
To facilitate co-os'erstlon Of the
States. the bill includes authority TO
construct and operate any part of the
superhighwsy within any State
through the State highway depart.
Baent.
Corporation Planned.
=, The bill would authorize the com.
mission 10 designate az part Of the
route any highway which has been
constructed In behalf Of the Federal
Government or a State or subdivision
thereof
jf. upon submission Of the final re.
port and plan Of the commission.
Congress approved IL. the commission
then would be converted into Fed.
eral Highway Corporation for the
purpose II carrying out the project
That Senator 6u T'oDt IL looking far