Evening star., 1928-02-26
ROAD EXPANSION
URGED IN HOUSE
s75,000,000 U. S. Funds
Yearly imperative" A.A.A.
Official Says.

Appearing before the roads commit
tee of the House Of Representatives.
spokesmen for the American Autono-
bile Association and its 953 affiliated
motor clubs presented have an ex-
tensive program for the accc!eration
projects throughout the United States.
The A. A. A. presentation in behalf
of more motoring mileage was opened
by Ernest N. Smith, general manager
of the national motoring body. who told
the House roads committee that our
car builders and car owners are crowd
ing our highway builders and that the
need for more and better highways Is
more urgent today than ever before.
As preliminary to his statement,
MIR. Smith called the attention Of the
committee to the current agitation In
favor Of the construction Of toll high
ways and served notice that "the
American Automobile Association.
while favoring express highways. Is
absolutely opposed to the granting o!
congressional sanction for the construc-
ton OF toll highways under any and all
circumstances. and TO the granting OF
toll bridge franchSes. unless express
pTURlaiUu ID llldNE lUk li4ClI
recapture to free public use"
s75.eoo.o0e q Year.
Mr.. Smith submitted TO the commit
tee an extensive brief under the sigma
ture OF Thomas p. Henry. president OF
the A. A. A., in which we're outlined
the principal recommendations on
which action at this session OF Con-
gress was declared to be absolutely
imperative" These recommendations
were grouped under the following three
main heads A..~
First, continuation OF Federal aid for
the fiscal years 1880 and 1891 on an
undiminished scale--ihat is. at the rate
of SIS. .000.0 year as the very mini
mum necessary 10 meet national needs.
Second, an increase from $500. 900
TO sl2,500,000 In the annual appropr!a-
ton for the construction OF forest roads
and trails, in order that this construc-
tion may keep pace with construction
on the Federal aid system and In the
interest Of better unification and con-
nection OF interstate and transcontt-
mental highways.
Third, congressional approval OF the
use OF 100 per cent Of Federal aid funds
on specially important projects In the
interstate systems OF III public land
States in the West and Far West. as
provided under the terms OF the So
called Cotton bill.
For Forest Roads.
Representatives Of A. A. A. Western
motor clubs, headed by G. c. Cottrell.
manager of the Highways Bureau OF
the California State Automobile ASso-
ciation. participated in the presenta-
ton. And, while whole -heartedly sup
porting the plea for continuation OF
Federal aid. they were particularly tn
sistent on more Federal corporation
and a larger concentration OF Federal
funds on forest roads and trails and on
the important links In the public land
States.
THE benefits OF a national system
OF improved highways" said Mr.
Henry'a statement. "in promoting In
terstate commerce. facilitating thf
mails and aiding national defense and
| the general welfare, are so apparent To
every thinking citizen that / hesitate
u urge upon either your committee or
| Congress special reasons why Federal
aid on roads should be continued on an
| undiminished scale In fact we be.
| lieve the ma ior question no" Is whether
or not IN the interest OF economy and
| political unity the appropriations
| should be increased While we do moi
urge the setting aside OF more money
! for the Federal aid system, our IN
| ves.iaations lead ,is 10 believe that
| s75, ,0G0. 900 a year IL the least amount
that might be spent wisely on Fedora
aid ioada'
States Cannot Pay.
/ III support ot the demand for mnf'
| funds tor forest roads and trails. nnf
| more liberal uae OF Federal funds or
important road projects IN public ianf
| States, Mr. Henry said,
THE speeding up of such work Il
soreiy needed since the Federal Gov
efnmnnt has failed to see that roht
| improvements on its land Keep pace
with improvements by adjoining States
| The roads on much of the Federal land
are deplorable, and both the motoring
public and the States look 10 Congress
10 remedy the condition.
with limited population and snhl
taxable land area, due TO Fedora
ownership of land. the public LAND
| States have followed The course ol
! least resistance and improved the
easiest ana least costly roads first. un'
less the Federal Government shares 4
| larger part of The expense of impr0y'
/ Ing the more costly projects the com
| pletiOn 0f many important national
| hjatlWays VIII be unduly prolonged"