The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-04-13
MORE HIGHWAY AID
FROM j. S. IS ASKED
BY ROAD SPONSORS
American Automobile Associa.
ton Says $75,0 900, 600 Is
Drop in Total Spent
SIPS, 600, 900 A YEAR URGED
Government Contributing But 5
per Cent to Billion and a
Half Expended Yearly

Washington, April i3-Road build
ing needs Of the country have Id.
vanccd to the stage where congress
should increase the present annual
federal aid appropriation of S75.ooo, 600
to a possible maximum Of $125, 900 600
This statement was issued today by
the national headquarters Of the
American Automobile association,
which originally sponsored the federal
aid program and has consistently re-
PEELED assaults on this policy Of high
way construction.
"Under the present policy Of making
these appropriations two years
ahead" says the national motoring
body, "the regular session Of the
scventy-first congress will turn its at
tention to the appropriation for 1882
and 1888. It is imperative that the
present program should be enlarged"
The A. A. A. points out that when
the present federal aid highway act
was enacted in 1916, there were only
3,50000O motor vehicles registered.
while today the number has increased
to 24,73l, 800.
Government Gives Little
In support Of It's proposal that the
federal government increase the ex-
tent Of its participation in road build
ing, the A. A. A. cites the following
facts:
1. State and local governments are
now expending the stupendous sum
Of $500, 000,0 900 annually for con-
struction of roads. To this amount
the federal government is contribute
ing only SIS, 000, 900, or approximately
S per cent.
2. Under the war excise tax, which
was the last hangover war levy re-
pealed. motorists paid into the treasury
81. 100 O00, 900, while the federal gov
eminent has expended approximately
$500, 600, 900 under the federal aid
highway act. This leaves balance Of
nearly $50O,O00,O00 still due the car
owners of the nation.
3. The present federal aid highway
system Of approximately zoo, 1000 miles
Of important interstate roads has
been only one-third completed, and
under the present program, 1t will re-
quire at least ten or fifteen more
years to complete this important pro-
gram. , &
4. There were 40 motor vehicles
registered in 1928 to every mile of i'm
proved highway, while the ratio ten
years ago was II motor vehicles to
every mile. This clearly shows that
highway-building agencies are not
keeping pace with the increase in
number Of motor vehicles.
S. The federal government, through
the use Of the highways for mail and
parcel post delivery, for military pur-
poses and other governmental activi-
ties, has been one Of the principal
beneficiaries of improved highways.
It should, therefore, assume a greater
part Of the burden OF building them,
and this would In turn help toward
the solution Of the farm problem by
facilitating the distribution Of agri-
cultural products.
Time TO Enlarge System
The statement continues:
while the federal aid policy is do
ing much toward giving the nation
an adequate system Of highways, the
fact cannot be ignored that our car
manufacturers are crowding our road
builders. Moreover, congestion is in
creasing at . greater rate than our
roads are expanding. This means
that the time has come to enlarge
the present program and look even
beyond the completion Of the system
already designated.
predatory interests, ever anxious
for personal gain at the expense of
the millions Of car owners, have used
the slow-process in bodybuilding as