Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-13
AIDED
BY ROAD BUILDING
w. R. Smith and A. p.
GreensfeIder Would
Find Jobs.

Road building has been tested dur
ing the past year as means OF re-
lieving unemployment and has been
found most satisfactory, according to
w. r. Smith, president Of the Ameri-
can Road Builders Association. More
than a million men are now employed
on roads and streets. Two other men
are busy furnishing each road worker
with supplies. he estimated.
Wide Area Aided.
Money spent on public roads IS
spread over a wide area in both coun-
try and city. The dollar spent in road
and street construction has double
value: it pays the bills of the worker,
and thereby adds in creating stronger
market for commodities, and 1t has a
permanent value in decreasing the cost
of highway travel that affects every
one" continued Mr.. Smith.
"A man out of job needs it where
he lives and road and street work
bring the job to him. Highway work
readily absorbs men from all classes Of
industry temporarily inactive" he said.
The public can buy highways at a
bargain now-the saving in cost prob
ably will more than Offset the interest
charges on road bonds. Relief of un-
employment might we'll be concen-
trated on road and street construction
that has been we'll tested and found
efficient" he concluded.
Greensfelder's Address.
Idle money will remain as long as
men are kept idle. and a state, county
or city without good roads is behind
the times, said A. p. Greensfelder in
recent address.
Are we going to stand still or help
our communities to climb out of the
depression?" he asked. Construction
is the balance wheel of American in
dustry and follows closely the trend Of
industrial conditions. The laborer in
building highways demands gloves,
shirts, shoes, bacon, bread and other
necessities.
roads and streets should be developed
AS a result of good roads and streets
there is increased demand for better
schools. churches. markets, diaries.
laundries, bakeries and other local
facilities. Small communities need
them as much as large cities. A farmer
in section of good roads can live in a
small town, visit his farm daily, and
at the same time enjoy all the advan-
tageS of the town-with motor car he
does not have to move to town. This
arrangement OF living holds farm
families together.
Produces Wealth.
Building roads produces wealth. The
results of money spent for good roads
in time Of emergency such as unem-
ployment relief remain long after the
depression has passed. Tourist trafic
flows where barriers are least-to Sec
ton Of good roads. Many hill regions
can raise more money from tourists than
from timber.
IF anyone doubts the demand for
good roads, let him try to close one even
temporarily or try to move 1t a mile
away. He will stir up a hornets nest.
"1dlenesS consumes. Employment pro-
duces. A stabilized fair wage and
short working day will minimize unem-
ployment.
Americans are committed to pay as
they travel That pay must be kept in
violate. The gasoline tax and registra-
ton fees for motor vehicles must be
used only to construct and maintain the
ways on which the gasoline engines run.
I'm the present unemployment emer-
gency, community leaders must demon
strate their ability to find way out for
the public"