The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-16

Washington, D. C.-The public de- mand for highways is now so great and the funds involved are so large that state highway officials have set their hands to the task of keeping the road dollar where it belongs with greater determination than ever before.
 The generous manner in which motorists are now contributing to highway construction through the payment of motor license fees and fuel tax, plus also the generous manner in which the federal govern ment s providing its share of capi- tai for cooperative work, is no war rant for waste in any form. accord ing to W. c. Markham, executive secretary of the American Associa- ton of State Highway Officials. "Certainly," MT Markham continued. .it is no warrant for the transfer of one penny from the main project of completing state systems first to miscellaneous and hastily planned construction on roads of lesser inn portance at this time. Frankly stated, our conception of the situa- ton is that motorists are putting up capital for road building, and in no sense for the construction of politi- cal fences.
 "It is quite important, in our judg- ment," said Mir Markham, that leg islation on highway matters in the forty-two state assemblies soon to convene, in regular session and sev- eral which will be in extra session. shall follow closely the new financial and administrative principles which we have laid down and ask the leg islatures to use as guide posts; for in so doing, savings will be made for taxpayers through avoiding the waste of time and money involved in the passage of measures that will ob- struct rather than help the cause of economic road building.
 ''In 1924, the American Assocla- tion of State Highway Officials, after a careful study of the varied condl- tions and requirements for highways observed through their experiences as road builders for the states adopted principles which they be- 1ieved would serve as a guide in meeting problems of this character Since that time, new developments have arisen which warrant a revi- sion of these early principles to serve as a guide to those delegated to legislate, as we'll as those who carry on this great public work Therefore, highway officials have agreed that state and federal funds available for new construction should be devoted first to the primary sys- tenn of roads as they are of great est importance to a vast majority of the travelling public. All expendi- lures should be made by the state highway departments or under their supervision.
 "It has been agreed that roads comprising the secondary system o1 highways should be financed by local revenues obtained from local genera { tax revenues and aid received from the states.
 'Third-cl roads of a purely local nature, serving only local needs should be financed by funds obtained from local general tax revenues Special assessments on adjoining land to defray a portion of the cos of such roads may in a few instance be Justified.
 ''The availability and increased use of the motor vehicle has done much to shift populations from con gested centers to suburban areas Suitable highway connections. we be- lieve, should be made to such subur' ban sections in order to fully utilize the possibility of motor transporta- ton.