Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-08

Unusual vision and foresight accord
ing to H. H. Brooks. general sales di-
rector In the automotive field, are seen
in the bill recently introduced in the
House by Representative Rathbone OF
Illinois. providing for the appointment
by the President Of the United States of
a commission to make survey with a
view to the eventual construction OF a
Federal transcontinental rapid-transit
roadway which will adequately serve the
growing traffic needs of the Nation.
In urging motorists to support the
measure, Mr. Brooks points out that
such highway, aside from its value as
military and post road. would be no
more than an adequate recognition on
the part of Uncle Sam Of the motor We
hicle owners who since 1918 have con-
tributed in excise taxes more than
81, 000, 000.0 to the Federal treasury.
The United States" said Mr.. Brooks,
despite the annual SIS, 900. 900 appropri-
alton for Federal aid, has not been
bearing Its share OF highway costs. The
Government is using some 800. 1000
miles of roads for mail delivery. SUBJ
jecting them to wear and tear. and leav-
ing the maintenance and repair work
for the individual States and counties
to assume.
The Federal aid policy works to adj
vantage In the East, but many OF the
Western States not only are sparsely
populated but contain vast territory
set aside for national parks and for
ests which are non-taxable for local
needs, and II is impossible for these
States, progressive as they are, to raise
their share Of the funds for Federal
| aided roads.
IAN all-paved coast forecast highway
S perhaps Americas greatest need today
Excellent roads. such as the Lincoln
| Highway and the National Old Trails
| lead from the Eastern seaboard to the
| Mississippi Valley, but the fan-shapec
| highway system naTrows down as 1t ap-
proaches the corn belt. and believe
| the jumping-on place Is at some little
| town in Kansas. From that point on
| to the Pacific Coast q motor trip /.
made over roads dusty at best, and al
their worst. hub-deep in mud.
| 1.-The United States is building about
| 5000 miles of paved road every year
| but the projects are scattered and pitt
| fully inadequate to meet the needs OF
| our $4,000 900 motor vehicles. II this
| road building were concentrated, Il
| would be possible TO build two coast
| to-coast highways each year. 1t ha:
( been suggested that so per cent OF the
| Federal allotment be appropriated fol
| the closing up Of the gaps so conspicu'
| Gus lust now between the Mississippi
River and the Pacific slope, and THU
plan, too. would be a good one.
Some hope Is held out to motorists ir
! the Browne atson bill providing thai
the fund OF S400, 200 900 soon to be
realized from the sale to France Of
| road building and war material be
pooled with the Federal aid appropria'
| tons but 1t has been SO amended that
even with this money available, nc
comprehensive program can be carried
out. The farmers, for one thing, have
demanded their share for the completion
of rural roads bringing them closer tt
the city markets, and the flood RELIEF
organizations also have been promised
a slice.
what Representative Rathbone pro-
poses, as I understand 1t, Is a super
highway, concrete ribbon divided int
six traffic lanes. the center lanes to bt
reserved for freight-carrying trucks
the outer lanes for tourist traffic, with
the local trafiic running between the
two.
1.-THE value OF such highway even nj
a military road for the rapid transporta-
ton of armed forces and military sup
plies In a time OF national danger
would be Unreasonable. Its social ane
economic value Is self-evident, as u
would be the means OF interchanginf
both products and ideas and would neiF
to weld the Nation together into one
homogeneous unit. Furthermore, ]