Evening star., 1938-02-20
by ]. A. O'LEARY.

by ]. A. OLEARY.
ONGREss has become suddenly
super-highway conscious
~ For . number of years sporadic
attempts have been made In House or SEN
ate to start q network OF transcontinental
boulevards, separated from all grade cross
ings. avoiding city congestion and, in most
cases, to be self-hquidating through toll
charges. Until recently, however, these
proposals were like 20 many other bills that
are introduced. considered and then filed
away for future reference.
When business began to slip backward
several months ago lawmakers and econ
omists began to look about for new ways
to prime the pump, and, along with other
proposals, the first month of the present
session brought forth q crop of new SUPER
highway bills.
Like the new housing law lberalizing
Government insurance Of home mortgages,
most Of the highway plans are intended to
be largely self-supporting, as distinguished
from the outright grant method 80 gener-
ally used in fighting depression since 1888.
Federal Aid Popular.
During the special session last fall Presi-
dent Roosevelt asked Congress to slow down
the regular Federal-aid highway program
as one means of bringing the budget closer
to balance. He suggested specifically that
no allotments be made for the coming fiscal
year and that new authorizations for the
next few years be reduced.
Needless to say, the regular Federal-aid
program Is extremely popular at the Capt.
tol. since it means Federal matching of
State expenditures on main arteries Ac-
cordinsly. Congress has not yet acted on
tho suggestion to forego allotments for
the new authorizations for the fiscal years
1910 and 194l, now pending, will be re-
duced materially In amount
Nevertheless, the Presidents appeal for
curtailment Of direct grants stimulated in
terest in the idea Of building self-liquidat-
ing highways from ocean to ocean and
from the northern boundary to the Gulf
ports. More recently the super-highway
movement gained impetus on the Hill when
the President, while not definitely commit
ting himself, indicated an interest in its
possibilities, especially the excess-con-
demnation method of development. Under
that method the Government would ac-
quire 4 wider right of way than would be
needed for highway purposes and dispose
Of the abutting property later IS q means
of helping to finance the program.
Washington 10 Be Linked.
Whenever the super highway plan does
materialize it Is virtually certain Wash
ington will be linked into the system. Two
of the pending bills, which undertake to
specify exact routes, include the District
put the Nations Capital on their itinerary.
In addition, q large volume of motor
trucking between Northern and Southern
points passes through the District. Even
before the super highway program began
to gain its recent momentum there was
talk in Congress of building q highway
tnat would carry through trafic from
Maryland to the Highway Bridge on the
outskirts Of the congested area of the city.
Most Of the pending plans call for three
East-West transcontinental boulevards.
with six or seven running north and
south. Estimates Of cost, over an ex-
tended period Of years, run as high as
$4,000, 100000
Creation Of employment both on the
roads and in factories is the immediate
incentive for the proposed legislation, but
some Of the sponsors cite also the value
of these major highways in the system
Of national defense, rs we'll as = means OF
promoting highway safety.
The first definite move In the considera-
ton Of the subject will be the opening
of public hearings Wednesday before
Senate subcommittee on the bill Of Senator
Bulkley, Democrat, Of Ohio. This measure
would create the United States Highway
Corp, with not more than 500 100000 OF
capital stock, and authority to issue up
to s2.ooo, 900 900 Of bonds to obtain funds
to carry On the highway program.
sse-Fsot Rights sf Way.
The Bulkley bill and some Of the others
avoid possible controversy over routes Dy
leaving detsiled plans to governmental
agencies. The Bulkley measure, which
Was introduced after the Ohioan had con-
ferred with the President. calls for rights
Of way at least 500 feet wide, with from
TO IL one-way paved lanes depending
upon traf1ic in given areas. Buses ana
passenger cars would be separated from
trucks, curves would be eliminated Is far
as possible. and there would be no erade
crossings. either 1T railroads or intersectins
highways.
The toll rates would be fixed by the
highway agency with view to covering
maintenance, policing and retirement OF
the construction bonds.
The Bulkley bill also covers the excess
condemnation susgestaon Of the Presi-
dent. Il authcrisss the Highway Corp. 70
acquire strip up 70 $50 1sst vide "a each
stds 4 highway. which may Be improved