Evening star., 1928-04-22
TOLL ROADS mus.
ARE NOW VANISHING
Complete Substitution of
Free Highways Foreseen as
Event of Early Future.

F7aany years, according to Norman G
Shidle, writing in this months Motol
Age. Slowly but surely the old tol
roads. established back in the days be,
lore even the first horSe,eSS carriages
we're getting much attention. have beer
coming into the hands of State high
way authorities and being made free tc
The public, This trend has had the
approval Of the Bureau of Roads OF the
Department OF Agriculture. the agency
which, with the cooperation OF the va
raouS State highway departments, has
heen most potent in making possible the
Cood roads system Of our country.
While there is little likelihood OF any
marked change in this trend toward
ts0al complete elimination of the toll
road, enough recent agitation has taken
place TO make necessary some real at
tentlon 20 the subject on the part OF
satomotive executives, distributors and
dealers, Any important recrudeScence
az the toll road idea would tend 10 him
Ger general highway development, COM
niicste the work OF co-ordinating high
way systems and impose another burden
on the already constantly increasing
cost of owning and operating motor
vehicle.
Restoration q "Step Backward"
TO revert TO toll roads would be a step
backward in national progress for which
here is no reason or excuse" said Al
sesd Reeves, general manager National
Automobile Chamber OF Commerce. IN
public statement recently. and in that
and Mr. Reeves seems 10 have the
hacking of most students Of highway
u~ohenS. as well as OF automouve men
SIS 8 body.
A number Of proposals for new toll
reads, nevertheless are being made ui-
rectly or indirectly today. On the sur
<ace some Of them seem TO have GER
ssin advantages from the standpoint OF
The car owner and of the automotive in
custry. Closer examination Of funoa-
gsentalS however, brings TO light nu-
raerouS objections which far outweigh
the possible advantages.
The highway system Of the United
StateS is an achievement Of such mag
nitude and such fundamental public
Importance that it never could have
haen developed by private interests,
r'blic support and public cooperation
e~e essential 10 its continued progress
s'ong constructive lines. And since the
kenefits Of the highways accrue 10 the
Tgfhlic as well as TO the motorists, ii Is
fair that the public should bear the
RAZOR cost Of building the roads. In
most States at the present time the
motor vehicle is paying sufficient spe-
esal taxes to care for the maintenance
a11d a part Of the construction OF all
fae highways at present needed.
View Of Taxpayer Cited.
The installation Of a toll road in one
sec.ion is likely to make some taxpay-
RS in adjoining areas say: Why
Mould We pay taxes for building high
rays here when tolls are being collect
- 70 pay for them next door?" Thus
tssa progress of the national road
building program over a period Of time
fright be seriously handicapped. The
answer to the question Just asked. of
eS1rse, is that private capital never
could take care Of the real highway
nxeds.
Then. too, there is the matter Of
rrotitability of toll roads In this re-
ss4ct. the situation is different from
that as regards toll bridges. While toll
bridges have proved immensely profit
sbse. IL is highly unlikely. according TO
e.perts. that toll roads can be made
wr01table. Even on much-traveied
rsutes between centeTS of populations.
-*rTeys indicate that a large proper
Tv.n OF the trafic is local in character:
tbs local traffic would not be likely
81 use the toll road. The remaining
Trough .rafdc, students say, would not
rey for the cost of building and main
Z ming the highway.
The difficulty here, of course, is the
denger Of investors becoming too en-
Eas1Siastic about profit possibilities be-
TIRE going into the matter thoroughly.
~ss3s profit in such cases would be
fz1eiy 20 accrue more to the original
promoters Of the idea than 70 those
~ssao permanently held the securities
r+th which the road was financed.
Congress Idea Discussed.
The whole matter OF toll roads lately
e ms TO b. getting mixed up with that
q express highways. Proposals being
sszoe IN Congress for investigation OF
sre feasibility Of construction OF ex-
segs highways have been interpreted
~ some automotive representatives as
p entering wedge for the establishment
g toll highways. The sponsors Of the
segiElation in Congress diEayow any such
ss1a. but there can be little doubt that
2; the minds Of some Representatives
#Dpoyting the investigation idea Is the
ts0ug1t Of toll roads as az least one
aassiDle alternative method Of financing
That the time VIII come-and has
seready arrived IN some instances
aen express highways win be neces-
ssy between large population centers
Gems almost certain. But when that
ere comes, highway authorities con-
end, these highways viii be part Of the
EeloGuie need Of the communities and
States which they serve. and thus prop
efsy VIII be part Of the regular gov
sfDmentsl road development plan The
Is Of FEDERAL aid on such highways
*sH Tenaove from the communities
fnFGFIgH9 Mn4ga they half ff faa
arden of their construction--a fair
fop0rtien IN view Of the fact that
'hsougn trafhc would make large use
Il these particular roads.
Industry's Attitude Summarized.
The attitude Of aatomotiye industry
= this important question Ia fairly web
unmarried In the words Of H. H. Rice,
eksirmzn Of the n. A.. &. G. tax COM
- attee, when he says
The free use " the public highway
fundamental principle of govern
g~nt
Motor vehicle owners " the United
aJes through special taxes are today
gely meeting the costs Of the con-
r1cla0n ~ these highways.
So-caliea express highways are sim
~ q step III the further improvement
our public highway system which VIII
= found necessary Ia those localities
42efe traffic u heavy and congestion
seat
The National Automobile Chamber
I Commerce, therefore, opposes any ef-
5Tt ~ place control u any part of the
bDllc highways In tie hands 0f private
Fgnot0rs, and this body enphaticsily
52p0ft& the principle that the public
shNsys shall ~ kept forever free u
5e general public"