Salt Lake Telegram | 1923-02-18 | Page 33 | Good Highways Aid National Progress

I GOOD HIGHWAYS AID AI NATIONAL PROGRESS Dy By ROY HOY D. D lee Vice President National Automobile Chamber of Commerce Public recognition of the social ip- ip fluence of highway transport has been perhaps the outstanding development of the past year It is no longer necessary to talk In general terms We Wo are beginning to obtain specific evidence of ot the Influence influence r In ence this of country highway r ay D Definite transport f traffic traffic a upon studies studies stud stud- life ies lea now under way under the direction direction direction tion of the bureau of ot public roar roads Indicate in indicate tn- tn clearly the flow low of ot commodities from farm to market and from market marketto to market Intimations of unprecedented suburban suburban suburban ban developments ments are seen In the In Inclination Inclination inclination In- In of the he man who lives In the city to get out far enough to have a ahome ahome ahome home of his own and a a. plot of grass for his children The task which remains Is one of developing the vast network of highways highways high high- ways necessary Y to complete t m g fl fl cation Broad financial a policies must t be laid down to Insure an expedited but efficient program ram of ot expenditure Centralized control is essential essential in order order or or- der that there may be a a proper relation rela rela- fl t rih eR f tion between the possible earning pow earning power pow pow- er of the road and the cost of ot its con construction and maintenance The construction of ot highways Is of benefit not alone to those of ot us who are paying the taxes axes today but to those who will follow If It we are to have the roads In our lifetime we must predicate our Initial outlay in inmany many Instances upon serial bond issues Is Issues Issues Is- Is sues which will give give us and our children children children chil chil- dren the road at a a. reasonable rental for Its use Property values whether In the city or country are definitely affected by highway Improvement n and d If t we are areto areto to proceed soundly from r a a. financial n standpoint the full property power of ot the state should be thrown behind state bond Issues The road user should be willing to pay all of ot the cost of maintaining the highway not so much as a matter matter mat mat- ter of principle a as be because his IS operating operating oper oper- rn costs will r l be directly t eS eStl tl I Influenced influenced r ence by the quality of ot the highway on which he Is driving and when aUIs all aU allis allis is said and done the motor vehicle fee tee offers the most direct protection to the states state's Investment in the way r. r because s IJ it Is a an annual revenue and c can be directed Cd against an annual ua charge Any use of or motor fees which de deflects de- de I de-I fleets funds from this fun fundamental am j I use Is vicious and should not be countenanced It Is scarcely overstating overstating overstating over- over stating the case to say that thai construction construction construction tion of or a road save In emergency ency purposes without an assured maintenance maintenance maintenance nance fund la Is criminal misuse misuse- of ot public funds and should be punished as such It is 18 also Important that county systems ms bear some relation to state Improvement as otherwise the less Important highway might be Improved Improved improved Im Im- im- im proved at the expense of the more Important Im Im- as as stated In terms of ot traffic the only fair measure