Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-20
TWO BILLIONS HELD
1882 ROAD NEED
Half Could Be Raised by
Taxes, Says w. R.
Smith.

Two billion dollars for roads and
streets In 1892 is held to be the mini
mum necessary to preserve normal &C
tivity without considering extra con-
struction to relieve unemployment. Mo-
tor vehicle taxes alone will produce half
this sum, according to W. r. Smith
president Of the American Road Build
erS' Association.
The association executive believes
that relief Of unemployment should be
effected through additional funds made
available from Federal, State, county
and city sources. The effectiveness Of
road and street construction for un-
employment relief has been accepted
by cities and counties in previous emer-
gencies and construction campaigns In
augurated for relief The Federal Gov
eminent and the States tested the use
Of road construction to give men work
during the past year and practically all
the money appropriated was expended
through public expenditures have had
difficulties in getting under way.
Employment Aid Seen.
More than a million men are now
employed in road and street building
and It Is estimated that 1000, 900 other
men are busy furnishing materials
equipment and supplies to each road
worker. Federal aid and State road
construction, this year exceeding a bill
lion dollars, employs $4,000 men;
county and township road work, ex-
pending In 1891 in excess of two-thirds
Of billion, probably keeps as many
men busy because of its diversified
character; city paving, somewhat re-
duced this year, has almost as many
men on the pay rolls. These estimates
from reliable sources show the extent
by highway construction, according to
the association representative.
Analysis of the dollar spent on road
and street work shows that more than
rs per cent of the money expended on
highways ultimately goes TO labor" said
Mr.. Smith. Labor. equipment, fuel
preparation of road and street materials.
In turn, the secondary materials en-
ploy labor in their manufacture
Highway work is the largest market
for cement, sand, gravel crushed stone
vitrefied brick, asphalt and tar. Steel
has a wide variety of uses. Railroad
freight tonnage Of highway products is
considerable item.
Largest Activity.
Road and street building Is one OF
the largest acClVlCleS--prODaDly the most
uniformly distributed-for the employ
ment of unskilled labor. Such work
absorbs readily men from all classes of
industry temporarily inactive more
easily than any other activity.
Unemployment relief depends large
ly on the initiative of local leaders,
many of whom are advocating road and
street building" he continued. THE
results from money spent on good roads
in q time of emergency such as the
present remain long after the depres-
zion is forgotten.
"A man out of a job needs 1t where
he lives. Highway work brings the job
to the worker.
THE dollar spent on road and street
construction has double value; it pays
the bills of the worker, thereby aiding
in creating a stronger market for corr
modities, and it has a permanent vaTe
in decreasing highway transportation
costs and reducing accidents that affect
every one.
THE public can buy needed roads
and streets at a bargain now Bonds
for highways defer payments until more
prosperous times. The savings due to
the present low cost of roads and streets
tend to Offset the interest charges" he
concluded.