Evening star., 1929-12-01
NEW ROADS URGED
TO AID PROSPERITY
A. A. A. President Cites Eco
nomic Advantages to Nation
Under Highway Program.

Maintenance of national prosperity
now and in the immediate years
ahead hinges, in large measure, on
development OF an efficient system of
highway transportation, according to
Thomas P. Henry, president of the
American Automobile Association.
Asserting that one of the big things
President Hoover and Congress can DO
to assure economic stability is to
sponsor an immediate expansion OF
the Nations bodybuilding program,
Mr.. Henry said:
For several years the American
Automobile Association has contended
that the highway needs of the Nation
tnittmentS under the Federal aid act,
whereby the Government has appru-
priated $75,000,000 annually for high
ways on the so-called z per cent system.
Increased Appropriation Urged.
1--WE Alave recommended that Con-
gress raise the Federal appropriation
to SIPS, 100000. This would mean that
the States would match the $50 ,000, 900
Federal increase dollar for dollar. Il
would stimulate and intensity road
building in the various States, provide
employment on large scale, hasten
completion of the Federal aid system
and pave the way for an extensive
program of express highways on the
free principle. We do not have to
wait for expensive commissions to do
these things, nor do we have to ask
the Government to make commitments
that would be drain on the public
Treasury.
'The economic Importance of ade-
quate highways cannot be overesti-
fhnP0 lie "A
movement of more than 25,00O,O 900
motor vehicles for which $7,230,O0O, 900
was spent for operating costs in 1928
in service stations and repair shops.
On them Is dependent the continued
growth of the Nations large motor
tourist business, which accounted for
the expenditure of $500, ,0O0, 900 this
year.
"I am convinced that whatever
Slackening up there has been In the
automobile industry Is directly related
to the inadequacy of our road pro-
gram. Let us bear in mind that there
were 40 new motor vehicles registered
in 1928 for every mile of highway
constructed on the Federal aid system
and that the ratio of automobiles to
highway mileage Is increasing from
year to year. Our road program is a
major factor in the prosperity of q
pdSIC uQuSCry employing 1886, 1888
people directly and 385,00O indirectly.
Other Weaknesses Claimed.
II need not point out that the rail-
roads receive 81 per cent of their
freight from the automotive industry
and from materials moved for road
building purposes. The railroads win
spend approximately $500, 900 900 this
year for improvements and better
mentS. The Government can Justify
thlS expenditure by sponsoring an ade-
quate program of highway construction.
There are other weaknesses in our
transportation system that deserve
consideration in any review of indus
trial stability and progress. President
Hoover led the way in giving the
country the model motor vehicle code
and the uniform municipal trafic
ordinance. Progress in their adoption
has been slow and yet the cost of
congestion and chaotic regulations
constitutes a tremendous economic
burden and mars the efficiency of our
system of highway transportation.
Here again Is an opportunity for ma
tional Stock-taking, in which Mr..
Hoover Is amply able to provide leader
ship and inspiration"