Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-08
DOWELL ASKS $165;OOO,O00 FUND
TO DEVELO OPP FEDERAL HIGHWAYS
House Committee Head Wants Congress to
Further Road Building; Pushing
South American Links

uniform system of highway desiyna.
ton.
The route numbering system was
carefully designed tn he of the
greatest assistance to tourists in fol.
lowing through routes. All East and
West routes bear even numbers,
while North and South routes have
odd numbers. Frequently three digit
numbers are used IT, Indicate branches
of through routes. For example.
route 40 is n direct road from AT
antic City t. San Francisco. \
tourist in Washington desiring To go
To San Francisco might take route
240 10 its iuncture with route 10 at
Frederick. Md.
There will be no difficulty In fol.
lowing any selected route since "A
sta ard sign showing the route mum.
Der mas been adopted and also stand
ard danger. caution and directional
signs. These Standard signs will add
greatly TO the safety and convenience
of travel as there will he no change
In their character in passing from
one State Tn another. TWENTY-FIVE
States already report their United
States highways completely marked
| 1 report the work partially complete
and Il which have not yet started
anticipate that 1t will be completed
next season.
System Started In 1925.
Work on the designation of "A sys-
tenn of United States highways began
In February. Ives. when ON the recon-
mendation of the American Associa
ton OF State Highway Officials. the
Secretary of Agriculture appointed
the Joint Board on Interstate High.
ways, consisting Of State and Federal
highway officials. Suggested systems.
submitted by ali Of the States were
harmonized by the hoard. and IA re-
port was made to the Secretary of
Agriculture. This report was au.
proved and transmitted to the Assoc.
ciation of state Highway Officials. and
tn. application Of The plan was left to
that body. VIII n few minor changes
nv them the present map has been
adopted "a iinal
The system in it's tinal form has the
approval of each of the State high.
way departments. aud work on the nm
improved a"ctioas IN Ia he pushed
rapidly.
M special funds are to become
available as the result of the dssigna.
tson nf any road IA IA part OF the sys.
main system of highways for the
Nation. the unimproved sections Of
which will he given priority in I'M
provemen,. and 10 eliminate confusion
IA In route designation. marking and
safety signs. Practically nil of the
system IN on thu system Of Federal
aid highways and In eligible TO receive
Federal aid.
As an indication Of the character of
the Federal.aid improvements. the
classification by the Bureau af Public
Roads af the 6l.3i0 miles completed
up tn June 10 last. shows: II 3ai miles
of concrete pasemrnts. 1919 miles III
bituminous concrete and sheet asphalt
pavement. ia rallies of brick pave
| menis. s.6S0 miles at hituminous
macadam surfaeing. lac miles of
water.honnd macadam surfacing.
81 al; miles If gravel aurfacing. a.1aa
miles Of sandclny surfacing, in.saa
miles Of graded and drained earth
roads and i6S miles af bridges.
Federal Aid Evident.
Nearly all III the roads thus far Inn
proved with Federal aid are included
In the E'ederalaid SYSTEM of Interstate
and intercounty highways embracing
| "A total of 1856 600 miles, and all future
expenditures will he devoted To the
further Improvement of thls ma Dor
system.
The necessity Of Federal nartieipns
ilun In the Improvement III these most
important Interstate arteries becomes
more clearly evident with the growth
of Interstate travel. In many states.
particularly those Of the East, traffic
counts @n the main roads show that
the number of vehicles hearing the
license tags II other States II almost
as srtat M the nunhec of laai We
hiries, and each year, tho closing nf
unimpraNed gaps and The resulting re-
duction If III. incoaveniences and time
If travel, add 10 the volume Ut the In.
terstute movement,
In the West The building NJ the
through roads ~ peculiarly national
problem, Snafse population and the
areat distances IN he SPAWNED, esi.e,
eialls IN the inturmountaIn region,
make Federal help positive essential
IL the craving demand Tor transeanti.
mental arteries is Ia In met IN Il tea,
annahie length Ut time,
Leaders In Congress vito are thor
nughly informed regarding tbs prog,
ress aud impoftanta al these Through
route improvements have given assus,
ane. that the Fedetalatd policy viii
ne continued for two mote years ar
iaaU and iaai. ut the rate at s3h, a0u.s
| nn0 "a year, This means "A fatal at
VI 80 900 300 far f'e,ietatad raada and
| ~ 300 0Un IL year for Two Neats for
| forest reads. making the total Of Siaa.,
| nn0, nnn praposed IN his hill by Repre-
| sentative noMail
such additional appropriations with
| The unsApendea funds already avail
at,is Will uTuN Idle for the extension at