The Washington times., 1929-01-09

UpcidIc bHCSc many puoliCSo
come an insiStent demand.
Since back of this demand there
are economic and social factors of
immeasurable importance to the ma
tional welfare it is but natural that
the Federal Government should be
deeply interested, and so it happens
that Uncle Sam Is assuming the
leadership in several phases of
highways construction and better
ment.
Army Is Growing
Through the Bureau of Public
Roads the Government is operating
chiefly in behalf Of the ever growing
army of motorists. 1t is through
this department that Uncle Sam is
endeavoring to promote the inter-
ests of motorists by giving lem
more roads, better roads, and at the
same time guarding them against
the rapacity of private interests
which seek to turn the necessity for
highways to private gain.
State governments, likewise, are
doing their share of the task of
bringing the countrys highway syS-
TENS to the point of adequacy. And
they are receiving the whole-hearted
cooperation of the Federal Govern.
ment Of which they are a part.
Road building in the United States
received a tremendous impetus from
the Federal-aid plan of sharing the
cost of a comprehensive program
of construction between, the Federal
and State governments. The plan
has been successful in raising the
total mileage, which a little more
than quarter of century ago was
100000 to more than 100000 at
the present time.
Mileage Improved
At the outbreak Of the World
War the total highway mileage was
almost 100000 of which about 10
per cent was improved. The war
exerted a retarding influence on
read progress and. during seven
years the improved roads increased
by only 130,469 miles. Of this num-
Der one.third was improved during
1921.
But highway progress by that
time had definitely begun. The
Federal aid road act was passed
by Congress in 1915, and, although
its effect was greatly nullified DUR
ing wartime, it served as the ground
work for expansion which followed
when the country returned to its
peacetime status.
1t had the salutary effect OF
focusing the attention of the nation
on the need for augmenting its
road systems and contributed the
very material assistance of attain.
ing this end by an appropriation of
SIS, 900. 900 for a five-year period.
This appropriation was followed
by one of $500, 100000 in 1919 for
a three-year period. The present
annual rate of appropria ton is SIS.
OOO,O 600. Progress was further as.
sured by the Federal highway act
in 1921. establishing the Federalaid
highway system.
Cost Immense
Since 1915 the nations highway
systems have been increased by
$4,000 miles of surfaced roads. the
entire cost of which has been 1855.
100000. There are under construc-
tion about 10000 miles, which are
to cost $271, 100000. The Federal
Government will share in their cost
to the extent of $1O7O00,O00.
State highways in the United
States comprise a total mileage of
293,352, of which 1886 miles are
surfaced. These, together with roads
in the construction or Improvement
of which the Federal Government is
sharing the expense. form the basis
for roads development in this coun.
try.
The Federal-aid system. which as.
sures the evolution of a nation
wide plan of connecting arteries,
now embraces 1SS.000 miles. and it
Is being improved at the annual
rate of 5000 miles. The total an.
nual increment of highway improve.
nlent for the entire United States
Is more than S5. 900 miles.
The Federal Government also Is
playing an important part in the
development of the highways in
The national forests and national
oarks. During the last year, there
we're PSI miles added to the modern
'oads in the forests, bringing the
otal to 3,775 miles. The national
parks also were the object of road
building activity. There were AZ
niles added to the roads in these
rational expanses, as part of a five
rear program which will increase
ne thoroughfares in the parks by
,'S0O miles. The work is being
lone under supervision of the
Bureau of Public Roads.
Bridges Important
Bridge construction forms an i'm.
'ortant item in the Federal pro.
'ram. Structures built with Fed
'ral-aid during the last fiscal year
lad an aggregate length of more
han 81 miles. This addition brings
he combined extent of these spans
n the system to 222 miles, while 6S
more miles are under construction