Show Highway Maintenance l We do not vouch for the correct correct- correctness correctness correctness ness ness of his figures but a recent writer declares that miles of hard surfaced American high high- highways highways highways ways must be reconstructed in the next two VO or three years or they will be Le unfit for use Some engine engine- engineers engineers ers estimate that before 19 17 or Within 15 years all aU our present highways will have to be rebuilt Even allowing for some exaggeration exaggeration exaggeration of the situation the pros pros- prospect prospect prospect is rather discouraging discouraging- It ap- ap appears ap appears pears s that most of our highways will be ruined before they arc paid for as many road bond issues still have many years ears to run before maturity There is no doubt that their ra- ra rapid rapid ra rapid pid deterioration is due largely to the damage caused by unreason unreason- unreasonably unreasonably unreasonably ably heavy trucks and anel buses These destruct destructive e vehicles not only break brcak breakup breakup up our roads and weaken our bridges but are a nuisance and a amena mena menace e to all aU other traffic No one would object to the use of the roads by trucks of reason reason- reasonable reasonable able size and weight ht but the error enor mons ones which now infest the highways should be abolished at atthe atthe atthe the Legislation earliest possible moment Legis lation to this end is being beinS adopted in man many states and wh while le the are protesting protesting- they have no one but themselves to blame By trying to hog the roads and destroy them at the S same time I they have little cause for com com- com I complaint complaint plaint if the taxpayers demand pro protection for the highways they have C I built at such a burdensome expense 1 |