Show maintenance IS A PROBLEM under constant flow of heavy traffic main trunk lines have been badly broken up following the extension of the use of motor trucks for overland travel in the endeavor to relieve the railroads of the burden of strenuous wartime traffic under which they have been laboring it Is but natural that the question of highway maintenance should come up for attention at this time it is now conceded that much has been done through the use of motor propelled vehicles over the through connected highways of alie country for the purposes mentioned above literally thousands of heavy motor trucks are now upon the road materially speeding up the delivery of wartime necessities the lincoln highway particularly in the eastern states has proved its high value over and over again other trunk highways have also been called upon to arry an exceptional burden of this freight traffic this movement has all been carried on with the absolute approval 0 the federal government and more through the activities of the transport committee of the council of national defense a further extension of this use of our public highways Is being urged under tills constant flow of the lincoln highway and certain other roads in the east are rapidly breaking down the road surface rapidly disintegrating under the pressure of the driving wheels of the massive trucks up to the time when truck trains were started over the roads the lincoln highway in its entirety across the state of pennsylvania was a veritable boulevard its surface was in the main macadam the road was the pride of alie state of pennsylvania large sums w ere expended in its careful maintenance expended by the patrolman patching state road state and the highway well served its purpose in carrying local and tourist traffic in relatively light vehicles similar conditions applied along the lincoln highway la tew jersey the argument Is advocated at this time that despite the inclination of local authorities to do everything within their power in a patriotic endeavor to further wartime interests it Is scarcely fair to expect the county and state authorities to such main traveled routes as the lincoln highway in their prewar pre war condition under the heavy traffic of constantly moving government vehicles government aid Is solicited to keep the roads at their best so persistent have become complaints to congress that the highways of the country have been badly damaged by motor truck raffle that some members those serving on committees dealing with the nations financial affairs are making a thorough study to determine bow the situation can best be met ai a result it Is expected that congress will soon receive requests to make appropriations into the millions the house committee on ways and means has already given some consideration concerning aid to be gleveri the states in road improvement it la but reasonable to expect that the federal government will take such steps as are necessary fog an equitable apportionment of the burden of expense of maintaining such important routes of as the lincoln highway good roads will help good roads will help win the wap don t neglect them curtail hoad work road work requiring the use of oils tar and lc products Is to be curtailed or cut out on request of the federal fuel administration increase convicts pay kentucky will pay its convicts who work on the roads a daiy diy instead of 1 as n result of experiments during 1910 and 1917 life of rural community the very life of the rural commma tr boon rood roads |