Evening star., 1933-11-26

~ F. equal importance to motor
dom as the automobile shows
is the road show and exhibit.
Highways are leading the
public works program for ma
tional recovery. This fact will have an
important bearing on the coming con-
yention of the American Road Build
ers' Association which will be held in
Chicago during the week of January
%, 1884. In connection with the con-
vention the association will hold COM
prehensive exhibit of highway equip
ment and materials.
In announcing the convention GATE
and location, H c. Whitehurst, engineer
of highways of the District of Colum-
bia and president of the American Road
Builders Association, emphasizes the
four major subjects that will engage the
attention of the convention. They are:
The need for continuation OF an ade-
quate highway program
The necessity for Federal participa-
ton in the Nations road program
The use of highway revenues for the
extension and improvement OF the Ma
tions highway network.
The necessity for bringing back to
the highway program gasoline ana mo-
tor license revenues which, during the
period of economic stress, have been ol-
verted to other purposes.
Joint Action Needed.
Mr.. Whitehurst points out the neces-
sity of co-ordinated action to stop the
inroads upon highway funds. Unless
checked" he said, the diversion OF
gasoline taxes and motor vehicle Ii
cense fees to other than highway pur-
poses constitutes a serious threat TO
a continued highway program. These
diversion tendencies must be dealt with
in a positive manner; otherwise the en-
tire highway program may collapse.
This must not occur, as the highway
program plays too important a part IN
our national life today"
The Nations highway development in
the past three years-ln spite OF the
S4OO 100000 emergency public works
road programmes fallen below stand
ard that gives reasonable assurance OF
meeting the needs OF motor tranSporta-
ton. Diversion Of motor revenues In
many of the States, OF an amount es-
timated at 5000, 100000 this year, mas
cut tremendously into the road pro-
grams of these political SUBDIVISIONS.
II is the contention of Federal and
State officials identified with highway
endeayor that this sum, spent for the
purpose which alone justifies its col
lection from motorists, would have
accomplished a two-fold purpose. IN
the first place, they maintain, 1t would
nave meant the improvement and ex-
tension of the highway network In
consonance with an extreme Eaf1c neeo
while, at the same time, it would have
provided employment for tens of thou
sands of men, accomplishing more in
the way of direct relief han has been
achieved by applying it indirectly.
The convention, which will be the
thirty-firSt annual meeting OF the asso-
ciation, will bring together Federal,
State, city and county engineers and
officials; equipment manufacturers, ma
terial producers, highway contractors
and others identified with and interested
in sound highway development
The exhibit to be held in connection
with the convention will afford q me-
dunn for exchange of ideas as to high,
the s 3H11r iateat impro1ements one and deveiop' @
ments in equipment, materials and
methods.
Highway affairs will have the center
of the national stage during the con-
vention week The general public. as
well as the industry will be afforded
the opportunity to become acquainted
with current highway facts. They can
then better determine the proper future
highway course for the general welfare.
This meeting is the outstanding ma
tional event of the year in the highway
industry and assumes even greater I'M
portance than ever at this time because
of the relation of highways in the
national recovery program.