Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24
BY A. r. DECKER.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
PRAGUE, Czechoslovakia, February
16.-Czechoslovakia Is considering a
five-year program for improving roads
throughout the republic. A previous
plan called for improving the highways
within 10 years. but demands for better
roads are becoming SO imperative the
five-year period has been adopted. Ac-
cording to the latter plan $6,000,00 will
be spent each year. The highway con-
struction viii be financed by loan from
the state central social insurance insti-
tuition.
The condition of roads in Czecho-
slovakia is VIGOROUSLY bad, nearly all
the roads being full of deep holes.
Springs and tires suffer, for the repairs
generally undertaken have consisted in
throwing large-sized sharp gravel on the
roads, without any attempt to roll these
in. However, the foundations Of the old
Austrian roads are still good and re-
pairs will be comparatively inexpensive.
There is so much loose stone on the
roads iokers claim facetiously that even
the geese are protesting, along with
farmers and automobile drivers.
1t is a common sight in many parts
OF Czechoslovakia to see large conveys
of geese being driven miles to the vii
lage, where they are fattened for the
Prague market. Near BeneSchau, in
Southern Bohemia, is one of these
"goose-stuffing villages. They are the
counterparts of Marienbad and Carlsbad,
where Americans go to take off surplus
fat. Where possible the goose herders
drive their charges along the fields, but
IN many places they have to use the
highways. AT night the goose herder
shouts and waves his stick frantically
until the cars stop. Then he makes a
way through his white flock for the cars
to pass. But geese are smart mixers and
not jayWalkers They hiss and raise
their wings, but move out of the way
calmly enough. But the chickens in
Czechoslovakia are as panicky as any
other chickens
Autobus development and the desire
to attract automobile tourists to the
watering places are reasons for improv-
ing the roads. Also Czechoslovak f.
nances are now in condition so that
money can be spent on highways
| The CZechoslovak government appre-
ciates the advantages which would come
from better roads. The minister OF
public works, in outlining the improve
ment to be made, says: THE owners
of motor vehicles will enjoy real ad-
vantages from road improvement. They
/ HAAA ot1FC All AuCl, bAlCn cAA0 ACPah D
Reduction of costs of operation should
bring a considerable increase in the use
of automobiles, and therefore NEAR
much for the development of the auto
mobile industry, which is still in its in
fancy in CzechoslCVakia, Better roads
will also mean saving q Tine end big
ger loads for trucks. In general better
roads will bring greater activity in al
forms of economic life"
Road improvement in CzechoSlovakis
consists not so much in building new
concrete or asphalt roads. but in saw
ing the old Austrian highways from
destruction. In many cases these roads
are worn down to the heavy stones usec
in the foundations. A few more year!
and the roads will be impossible.
Czechoslovak rail lines are state own
ed, so that it is possible to make the
interests of automobile traffic harmo.
nize with the railroads. Probably the
gasoline prlce-40 cents per gallon-L