Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-08
|AUTOMOB|LE-RA|L
PROBLEM OUTLINED
Road Congress Speaker Says
Cooperation Is Great Re-
qaireHRent of Age.

Cooperation between railroads ant
automobiles was termed zone of ths
great requirements of the age" In 6
special report to the Sixth Internationa
Road Congress today.
Henry r. Trumbower, professor Of
economics in the University of Wis.
consin, told the. highway construction
experts from all over the world thai
the people and government agencies o.
several countries are beginning to in.
vestigate the possibilities of co-ordinat.
ing the movement of persons and com.
modities by highway on the one hand
and by rail, water and air on the other
Autos Cut In on Railroads.
Prof. Trumbower, who is an econ
omist of the United States Bureau Of
Public Roads, said 1t must be recog-
nized that common carriers of both
passengers and freight constitute but
very small part Of the total highway
trafflc. Private automobiles, in the
United States, for instance, he said, are
handling most Of the total travel and
have taken from the railroads more
than two-thirds Of their local passenger
business.
"Where such condition occurs" hi
said, public authorities should permit
the railways to adjust their train sched-
ules so as to reduce passenger train
miles as much as possible"
Bus operation, he asserted, whether
carried on by railway company or by
an independent operator, must be con-
Quoted as a regulated monopoly. Exces-
sive competition results In less adequate
service" he declared, with unneees-
sarily low rates, which aggravate the
loss to competing railway lines"
Report Combines Many Reports.
The report represented the consensus
Of numerous other reports submitted by
experts throughout the world, and II
will form the basis for any conclusion;
arrived at by the congress as to the
most advanced means of correlating the
various forms of transportation.
Alfred G. Brosseau, president OF the
president Of the Chamber of Commerce
Of the United States, presided at the
session.
Paving was discussed before the SEES
sion on construction and maintenance
by Roy w. Crum, director of the High
way Research Board of the National
Research Council of Washington
Fred r. White, chief engineer of the
Iowa State Highway Commission,
presided.
Taking @ brief recess from business
early this afternoon, the delegates after
a lunch at the Willard Hotel Travelled
to Mount Vernon as guests of the Per-
manent International Commission.
wreath was placed on the tomb OF
George Washington by Vicomte j. de-
Rohan, member of the official French
delegation and a kinsman Of Lafayette
Construction work In the vicinity OF
the Mount Vernon estate interested 9
large number of the delegates. On the
return trip they were afforded an oppor-
tunity to see what has been done on
the Mount Vernon Memorial Boulevard
Stops were made at Fort Hunt and
thence over the rough grade TO the
south shore OF Hunting Creek and al
Wellington Villa, highway grade sep
aration In course Of construction was
inspected 1t Is at that point that q
system of border roads has been planned
for the Memorial Highway. Future de-
velopment will front upon the border
roads, which will collect trafic and de-
liver 1t to the main highway at selected
points OF access.
Bond Issues Favored.
The section Of the congress devoted
TO questions of finance yesterday tenta-
lively agreed that bond issues for high
way construction in most countries are
desirable. All policies reported upon
must receive the agreement Of all the
official delegates at the final plenary
session Friday.
Bond issues should be limited to
actual requirements for economically
justified construction, the section en-
phaSized, under sound administration
and with subsequent maintenance pro-
vded for out of current revenues.
The question of which Is the best
you-go plan, is a controversial one In
this country and one which has not
been answered to the satisfaction Of ex-
pertS generally. Some States, North
Carolina notably, have financed elab-
crate road systems through the sale of
bonds. Others have steered clear of
bonded indebtedness, and paid for their
roads as gasoline and license taxes were
collected.
Paving Problems Discussed.
"As more than half the cost Of any
highway represents grading, drainage,
structures, engineering. rights of way,
etc, the finance section stated in its
report, which are of practically in
definite life and as the other portions
have life well beyond the period of
amortization thereof under the serial
form, the terms of bonds for construc-
ton of main highways may be 80 years
and for improved secondary highways
20 years.
when the needs for expedited high
way construction and improvement have
been met" the report added, the use
OF bond issues should be discontinued
and the pay-as-you-go basis followed
especially In cases where capital ex-
penditures result in each annual bud.
get"
Hard-surfacing problems were dis
cussed by another group of the con-
greSs and various technical method:
were approved, particularly for concrett
construction, The report called atten-
ton to the results obtained from rub
Der paving blocks, notably in England
where the material has been used fol-
several years, and suggested that fur.
ther experiments be made in an effort
to determine their practicability.
The delegates were entertained oil
luncheon by the American Automobile
Association at the Willard Hotel al
noon and this afternoon, late, were to
make an excursion to Mount Vernon.
This evening at 0 o'clock, Henry L
Stimson, the Secretary of State, and
Mrs. Stimson, will entertain the dele
gates to the congress at reception in
the Pan-American Union Building.
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