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Show BETTER ROMS MOVEJURTED David Jameson Boosts for Improvements Im-provements on U. S. Highways WASHINGTON. D. C. 'If unemployment unem-ployment assumes widespread proportions, pro-portions, the most logical answer to the situation would be the prompt utilization of this exccus labor In the building of highways possessing an interstate algnif icance," comments Da- vld Jameson, president of the American Ameri-can Automobile association, which organisation or-ganisation has been prominently Identified Iden-tified with rond betterment since, its formation at Chicago In March. 1902. "It will be remembered that when congress was approached two Years ago for $200,000,000 additional under the provisions of the federal aid road act." contlnuoM Mr Jamieson. "it wits set forth that this money, which called for an equal amount Jr.un lh s. . ral states, would serve to carry on roads building and absorb the surplus labor which It was anticipated would result from the abrupt conclusion of the big struggle. Besides this total of $400.000.noor from the national treasury and the i. orH .--.ales, the sum of $9.ii.iii.hu0 was added to the $10,00-0,000 previously previous-ly appropriated for the construction of roads In federal forest rc-serves. "But the period of non-employment did not arrive, besides which there wag difficulty In obtaining materials and tneir shipment and the abnormal prices cut down very Substantially new road mileage. Present Indications, Indica-tions, however, aro that the supply of labor in the near future may considerably con-siderably exceed the demand, and hence a recourse to Important public Improv. in. ' is .c.hl he ,i direct means of stabilizing labor conditions. Surely there can be no greater benefit conferred upon the entire country than bv the building of highways which win materially redui e the cost of transportation and facilitate tho exchange of farm and manufactured products between the country district- ami the centers "i population. I "Congrcrs could not act more wisely wise-ly than to naas at this short session ! the Townsend bill calling for the cre-1 cre-1 atlon "f a federal commission to lay out a great system of li erstate hlgh-t hlgh-t ways and arrange with the several ; states for tho prorecutlon of this na-' na-' tionnl undertaking at the very earll-1 earll-1 est moment The building of roads ils one thing which will unquestionably Improve conditions, and we are all now well aware of th. fad that public sentiment Is overwhelmingly in favor of maximum activities in tiii- regard, ' from nation slate and county." |