Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19
CAROL|N|AN LAUDS
FEDERAL ROAD AID
Former Commissioner Tells
of States Investment in
Building Program.
BY JAMES w. BROOKS,
Director American Highway Educa tional
Bureau

Bureau.
North Carolina, one of the foremost
States in road building, has completed
the construction of its main highways
ard is now extending improvement 20
other roads that will fall logically into
an enlarged State system as traffic in
creaseS.
This development was brought out
by Frank Page, former highway conf
missioner of North Carolina, who APP
peared before the House committee on
roads as spokesman on highway mat
tiers for the United States Chamber of
Commerce.
What is now taking place in North
Carolina and other States where road
building has been carried forward ag-
gressively during the past few years is
in line with the practical policy adopted
by State and Federal highway engineers
in reaching out from main routes to
secondary roads, thereby meeting the
demand for an extension OF road inn
provement to rural areas. This, as has
been stated repeatedly, is the only log
ical and economic way in which high
way progress can be made, if the true
interests of motorists and taxpayers in
general are to be taken into account.
Holds Road Aid Is Investment.
The fact was also brought out by Mr..
Page that during 1929 "the United
States Government only participated
to the extent of per cent in the ex-
penditure for public roads in the United
States and also that there was ex-
pended approximately $1,000, 000,O 900, of
which the Federal Government apprc-
priated only $40. 1884, 900.
Calling the Federal aid measure now
before Congress an investment rather
riof IL
clared that in his opinion there has
been no activity on the part of Con-
gress that has brought so large return
to the benefit of the people of the
United States as the appropriations for
public roads through expenditures by
the Bureau of Public Roads"
For two reasons I say that" said
Mr.. Page. "One is that after 10 years
close afflliation and work with the
Bureau of Public Roads, / say that it
is in my opinion one of the most highly
organized and efficient organizations of
the Government functiening in any
capacity. Another reason Is that the
appropriation of approximately $751;
100000 to the State of North Carolina
during the period of 10 years enabled
us to spend wisely an appropriation of
$l50,000,000 through the supervision
and help and standards set by the
Bureau OF Public Roads"
Two Ghosts" Laid Low.
In connection with the hearings just
held, it will be of interest to motorists
to note that two ghosts of earlier days
in Federal aid legislation appeared
momentarily. One was as to whether
the United States Chamber of Com
merce was in favor of extending and
improving present State highway sys-
TENS rather than the so-called inter-
national or interstate system" Mr..
Page replied that he knew of no cham
Der Of commerce that had expressed
itself in favor of an interstate, Federal
owned and Observation-Disclosures high
way system. The second ghost was laid
low by Fred r. White, State highway
engineer of Iowa, in reply to the sug-
gestion that highway engineers were
giving preference to tourist roads. I'm
these days, who is a tourist" was MIR.
Whites rejoinder, and the question
went unanswered. Strictly speaking,
exclusively tourist roads do not exist.
All roads are used for all purposes
freight, passenger, community traffic
and vacation travel.
Thus the legislative mills for high
way progress grind on.