Evening star., 1938-10-30
NEWS OF THE MOTORING WORLD
Auto Show Opens SaturdayTra6c Commission Debated-Tra6c
Victim Care-Goham Exhibit-Tax Notes.

tive buyers are merely waiting to se6s
the new models at the show. The con.s
venience afforded in being able to in-s
spect al that is now in production
under one roof in q single visit makes
its appeal to prospects who may be
quite we'll aware that all Of these cars
will be displayed in local salesrooms.
Stocks Of new cars in the hands Of
dealers are now very low and their
used car stocks have decreased mate
rally.
Maybe there Is some good news con-
corning the tax question. At least the
American Petroleum Institute finds d
small ray Of future sunshine in q res
cent report, which follows: 2
Hope for relief from excessive auto-
motive levies is seen in the findings Of
highway surveys now being made in
many States through cooperation of
State highway commissions and the
United States Bureau Of Public Roads.
Preliminary studies of the surveys
have indicated that tax economies
will be possible because the greater
proportion Of highway needs will be
for generally inexpensive roads.
Even if, by 1866, the increasing an
nual use of motor vehicles and the
growing number of vehicles on the
road combine to create 100 per cent
increase in traffic proportionately
throughout the entire road system, not
more than 10 to l3 per cent OF State
highways would require more than
two traffic lanes, it is reported by r. E.
Toms, chief OF the bureaus division
Of design. Mr.. Toms indicates that
not more than 2 per cent of the Ma
tions highways need be wider than
two lanes to accommodate the 42000.-
600 motor vehicles which, at the indi-
Gated rate Of increase. would be travel
ing the roads in 1860.
Currently there are some 3.068 .92l
miles OF highways in the United States
and slightly more than $4,000 miles
in State highway systems. On this
basis, only about per cent Of the
roads need be wider than two-traffic'
AoiiNc, NhNil, 4OIflS lStlS. easily
will care for an annual average travel
up to 1000 vehicles per day Even if
maximum traffic were 5000 he SAYS,
the two-lane highway would not be
seriously congested
In Mr.. Toms opinion, proposed
superhighvays and luxurious boule-
wards are largely unnecessary. High
way travel of sufficient volume to re-
quire the heavy expenditures involved
III such projects is confined to the
vicinity Of populous urban areas.
With the threat Of enormous expendi.
lures thus removed it is believed that
reasonable tax rates, espe-lly in view
of the expected large increase in the
number of automotive taxpayers, will
provide adequate funds for the financ.
ing Of highways safe and satisfactory
for general use The only other
threat to the automotive taxpayers
pocketbooks is seen in the practice Of
diverting highway funds to general
purposes. thus preventing State high
way commissios from developing the
roads for which highway users have
paid.
The highway surveys, which include
traffic counts and which will. for the
first time, present an accurate picture
of highway use and needs in the
United States. are continuing in about
| 40 States. In few states data already
is sufficiently complete to permit Of
ascertaining trends and needs.