Evening star., 1939-05-30

DISCUSSES PUBLIC ROADS
wright of Oklahoma, who spoke
Forum.
rural roads is served by the Federal
aid and State systems. The Sec
ondary and feeder roads comprise
about SO per cent of the road and
street mileage and serve only about
13 per cent of the traffic Improve
ment of the more heavily Travelled
main highways and city streets COM
prising II per cent of the mileage
and accommodating 81 per cent of
the travel is therefore a first neceS-
sity, but the State highway planning
surveys are disclosing other facts
that merit careful consideration,
These facts show that the main
highways give access to only about
one-fourth of the rural places of
business and of social and religious
gatherings. One of the objectives
of the highway planning surveys is
to provide data on which to base
the selection of a secondary road
system that will give improved serv-
ice to still larger percentage of the
total traffic and give direct access
to greater percentage of rural
homes and establishments. 1t is
planned to limit the system initially
to 10 per cent of the rural road
mileage.
Proposed Federal Land Authority.
The final recommendation made
in the report of the bureau relates
to the serious problem of how to
obtain the land that must be OBJ
tanned if our highway problems are
to be solved A proper solution can
be had only by widening many old
rights. of way and purchasing new
ones through both urban and rural
areas.
The most influential causes of the
delay in effecting the needed
changes in our highways have been
the inadequacy OF funds and the
overpoWering legal obstacles and in
hibitions that stand in the way of
obtaining essential rights of way.
These will continue to retard ac-
ton and eventually build up for
midable burden of deferred expendi-
ture unless early provision is made
to deal adequately with this prob
lem.
Heretofore the Federal Govern
ment has had no part in acquiring
land for highway use. The laws of
practically all States pertaining to
such rights of way are archaic.
They are based in almost all cases
on provisions that we're written into
the statutes before the days of the
automobile Widths that may be
acquired by condemnation are those
prescribed in horse and buggy days.
In most States the price demanded
by the property owner must be paid
or construction delayed by long liti-
cation.
Data such as are presented in the
bureaus report and are being COM
piled in the highway planning sur
veyS make it possible to foresee our
road needs 10 and 20 years hence
We can tell now what roads will
need to be widened, where they must
be built on entirely new locations
and where broad and costly strips
must be acquired if traffic is to
flow smoothly through the center
of cities
Every year of delay in acquiring
land greatly increases the cost.
Growth is rapid along the sides of
surfaced roads, particularly near
cities where improvements will be
most needed. AS homes, business
houses. service stations and indus
tries are located the way in which
the highway may be improved be-
comes more restricted until there
is no alternative that is not high
in cost
Would Be Capitalized.
The bureau recommends definite
remedies for these conditions 1t
urges revision of existing right Of
way laws by the several States in
the light Of present-day conditions.
The obtainment of right of way for
needed facilities will involve a heavy
present investment, but a virtually
permanent one. and one that will
pay large dividends in the avoid
ance of future expenditures in larger
amounts. There is proposed the
creation of a Federal land authority,
having corporate status with ade-
nuate capitalization and authority
to issue obligations within pre-
scribed limits, which would be en-
powered to acquire, hold, sell and
lease lands for stated purposes.
Such authority would give assist
ance in the acquisition CT land
wherever needed in connection with
Federal undertakings. The report
points out where it might render
important service in avoiding con-
f1icting plans for use of the same
land.
The land authority would acquire
ldllu Will TcUCld AuAluo dt Vic Ic"
quest of a State highway depart
ment, hold it as Federal property
subject to later lease by the State
on terms that would amortize the
initial cost in so years.
With proper restrictions it would
be possible for the authority to ac-
quire land at certain locations in
excess of that needed for highways
and after the highway improve
ment has been made sell it at a
profit as has been done in England
and other countries. It is probable,
however. that new constitutional au-
thority would have to be provided
TOR such a procedure. There is no
thought of acquiring for such pur-
pose broad strips of land over great
distances. Acquirement of land in
excess Of highway needs should be
limited to those locations where