Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-28
HIGHWAY BUILDING
NEEDS ARE STUDIED
Coordination of Forces for
More Employment
Sought.

The importance which highway con-
Nations greatest industries has en-
phasized the need for a better under
standing on the part of the public as
to the ohdcial channels through which
road building Is advanced. This Is the
view taken by Henry H. Blood, chair
man of the State Highway Commission
Of Utah and president Of the American
Association Of State Highway Officials.
Mr.. Blood now is in Washington at the
request Of Col Arthur Woods, chairman
of President Hoover's Emergency Com
mittee for Employment, to aid in CO.
ordinating forces for more employment.
I'VE have recently concluded our reg
ular annual session at Pittsburgh" said
Mr.. Blood, "and we have agreed upon
policies by which we are to be governed
during the coming year. First, we have
program for increased Federal aid as
an emergency employment measure, and
we are working intensively with Presi-
dent Hoover's committee, headed by
Col. Arthur Woods.
Would Change Limitation.
Another part Of our program is to
have changed, If possible, the present
limitation Of $4,000 per mile on Fed
eral participation in highway construc-
ton so that the Secretary of Agricul-
ture may be authorized to approve prof.
ects at so per cent of the cost of con-
struction.
Then there is at the present time
considerable agitation for the improve
nlent of secondary roads, in some cases
classed as m-to-market roads, with
resultant demand for diversion of
State funds now available for State sys-
TENS. We are opposed to the diversion
OF these funds until the primary routes
have reached more advanced stage Of
Improvement Our position is that the
major portion of State funds should be
used entirely to expedite work on State
systems and In keeping with major
trafdc demand.
Want Uniform Taxes.
zone Of our aims also Is to secure,
II possible, great uniformity in gaSo-
line taxes and motor license fees. We
stand for the restriction of toll bridges
in the interest of the public, and also
for roadside Identification as a means
OF reducing highway maintenance costs
by checking erosion and preventing
Slides
"Our organization" said Mr.. Blood,
sis composed of public officials charged
with the building and administration Of
any pronouncement from this oficial
body, which co-operates closely with
the Bureau of Public Roads, may be
relied upon as expressing the true facts
concerning State activities in the great
project Of road building.
THE American Association of State
Highway officials has been functioning
IT years, having been organized at
meeting held in Washington on De-
cember IL, 1914. The purpose for
which the association was organized"
Mr.. Blood concluded, and for which it
is to be perpetuated, Is to study the
various materials, methods of construc-
ton and maintenance, all problems
connected with view of establishing q
uniform system Of administration, con-
struction and maintenance: to promote
legislation for the purpose of conserv-
ing the capital invested in highway con-
struction and maintenance by produc-
ing the highest possible efficiency, and
to cooperate in every way possible with
the United States Bureau of Public
Roads or similar Federal organizations
in the consideration of road problems"