Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-15
Roads 10 Industries
And Military Posts
Held Big Need Now
Cormody Tells A. A. A.
PorIey Superhiehwoy
Proerom Must Wait
"A. P. Photo.

Federal Works Administrator John
M. Carmody said today that the i'm
mediate defense necessity in the
road building program is for con-
struction of access thoroughfares for
Army and Navy reservations and for
expanding defense industrial plants,
but that superhighways will have
to be relegated to future long-term
programs.
He spoke at the final day of the
convention of the American Auto
mobile Association at the Mayfower
Hotel.
The administrator added that the
Public Roads Administrator and
the w. p. A. are cooperating with
the War Department in conferences
throughout the country to determine
specific needs for access roads to
military establishments and defense
factories
He said that. of the $4,000 miles of
highways which have been desig-
mated as the Nations strategic de-
tense system, 1000 miles are less
than 10 feet in width. $4,000 miles
are of weak surface, 2.400 bridges
are below the standard for strength
and 500 additional bridges do not
meet the 18-foot standard of width
or the 1212-foot standard for clear
ance.
Great Deal Of Work Needed.
Present funds available for i'm
proving and constructing these ac-
cess roads, he asserted, include reg
ular Federal-aid. Works Progress
Administration, State and local and
War and Navy Departments.
Mr. Carmody concluded that
while our strategic system of high
ways is In reasonably satisfactory
condition, 1t is not fully adequate
and needs a great deal of work
done on it,"
Col. Sidney D. Walden of Detroit,
chairman of the Highway and
Legislative Committee of the asso-
citation, said that the A. A. A. should
back up the program of building and
improving access roads and express
highways into cities.
Municipal Parking Areas.
Necessity of providing municipal
parking areas in large cities was
brought before the meeting.
William A. Stinchcomb Of Cleve-
land, chairman of the Parking Com
mittee. reported: 1T is recommended
that more attention be given the
provision of parking facilities OF
the street, rather than continuing
to place major emphasis on curb
parking, rs is done In many places
while 1t is recognized that full
and appropriate attention should be
given to curb parking and that curb
use can and should be improved.
the ultimate solution to the down.
town parking problem, particularly
in the larger cities, lies in the use
of space other than on the street. :"
Surveys Recommended.
To this end it was urged that all
cities make q survey Of parking
facilities, existing and potential, and
include parking area plans In pro-
jected municipal developments.
Last night the more than 500 dele
gates to the convention attended the
annual banquet at the Aaynower
Hotel at which persons attending the
Eastern Conference Of Motor Vehicle
Administrators, meeting ut the VIII
lard Hotel, were guests.
F. Harold Van Orman. former
Lieutenant Governor Of Indiana, and
others spoke briefly, but the eve
nins's emphasis was placed on enter
ranging from . floor show
to dancing.
Diplomatic representa- vese incluc-
ing Ambassadors and secretaries Of
IA Latin American countries and
Canada, were honor guests at q
luncheon yesterday given by the
association. A. A. Berle, Assistant
Secretary Of State, was the speaker.
Highway Progress Repeated.
He reported that increasing friend
illness between the Americas was
now Imminent because the, Pam
American highway through the wilds
Of the Panamanian Isthmus WAS
progressing at . good rate and
should be In use within the next
few year,"
He spoke Just after Assistant At
torney General Thurman w. Arnold
had declared ct the morning ses-
sion that trade was the prerequisite
for permanent ties With South
America and denied any homiGpheFae