Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-15
''EXPRESS Highway CAMPAIGN
NOW UNDER WAY IN CONGRESS
Tilson and Macdonald Reported to Be
Supporting Move to Have u. S. Build
Fast Auto Roads.

were 100 years ago. Asphalt. conersts
and gravel have, TO some extent, been
placed upon the surfaces OF these OLD
trails, but most Of them are sttn mar.
row, rough and dangerous, and whore
cities and towns have developed. these
old trails have become streets. jam.
med with street cars. trucks, autorno-
biles and people. There 10 not one
long. unobstructed. adequate national
motorway In all OF this great land.
Present Roads Assailed.
1.-The ever mounting automobile cas-
ualty list has become colossal, cArry-
ing with IL widespread grief and ter
rife economic loss. The present sit
uation ia a 24-hour catastrophe. going
on 3s5 days A year. Our so-called ma
more destructive Of American lives
and property than any enemy ever
has been
The economic loss 70 the nnotorist
OF the Nation because OF Inadequate
motorways il beyond comprehension.
The loss amounts 70 hundreds OF mill
lions OF dollars annually. not figuring
the losses due 10 wrecked cars and
| lives. Figuring the loss OF waste gas.
/ oline. oil, tires and wear and tear on
( the car proper, the total becomes
staggering. but when the loss OF time,
/ due 10 the loss Of car miles. IL added,
/ We run ont of figures"
/ This IL what Barlow thinks Of pres
! ent highways and 10 meet this situa-
! ton he proposes TO build direct roads.
! over entirely new rights % way and
| without grade crossings, between
/ large cities. His roads would be like
| railroad rights OF way. going either
| over or under cross roads. They
/
| at all. but pass to either side, with
| curved branch roads TO feed the traffic
| into and out Of the main highvay
| without interfering with through
/ traffic.
| Tolls Would Aid Plan.
Express highways OF this character
can be built between great centers OF
/ population and paid for out Of tolls in
/ a very few years. Mr.. Barlow de-
clares- The Bureau OF Public Roads
has figures To show that toll roads
! OF this character would undoubtedly
pay in several sections where there
- heavy traffic. Exacrly how far
such a system could be carried on 4
self-supportinG toll basis 10 sill a
matter If speculation but the hest
information obtain4bls shows that
there are ~ least a few places where
such roads would almost certainly
pay for themselves by tolls uanr
times over in a comparatively shcrc
time. Business houses using trucks
extensively for shipping would frd
IL well worth while 20 pay a small fee
for the use OF direct roads OF this
type because Of the saving IN time
and in wear and tear on their trucks
and in reduction OF danger from dam
ages Motorists travelling consider
able distances would also find such
highways worth the toll in additional
comfort. convenience and safety. ad-
vocates OF express highways" con.
tend.
Mr.. Barlow's pan would call for
building the frs INK IN the proposed
national system from New York 60
Boston. by way OF Bridgeport. New
Haven. Hartford, Springfield and wor.
cester. Such read would coanecs
1000. e0a people at one end with eco =
GOO on the other, passing through =
territory with many millions more.
There IL probably no section OF the
country where the tratfc congestion -
worse than il is here. and Il Is b.
iievsi iha: there is no section where
/ toll express highway Of the kind
proposed ny Mr.. Buriow would nav
better. tie WOULD builr this stretch
by private capital and feels sure that
WIKI FEDERAL charter there would Be
no difficulty IN getting bankers 70
furnish the money for such a prciec.-
he proposes. however. that the pubic
he protected ny providing thar -j>-
read become the property OF the Fed.
eral Government after il has paid fo-
Itself ou. % tolls and given the IN.
VeStsrs q ressonS be profit O
After RAISING 10 Government: cwn-
s-ship the road might be continued
for a period as = toll rad s1S -es
profits used 20 extend tss express
Z highway" system.