More Millions for Better Roads – 1927
IT is “cheaper to have good roads” than to go without them, it has been stated in high official circles in Washington, and the Federal Government as well as States and subdivisions are now definitely committed to huge highway expenditures.
More than a billion and a half dollars was spent in this country last year on road-building and maintenance, it is estimated, and touring motorists who have been “detouring” most of the time will readily believe it. As a result we find a definite stimulus to many lines of industry, including concrete, steel, brick-making, etc., and an important influence on national habits in distribution and transportation. The fall road-building season, writes J. C. Royle in a Consolidated Press dispatch from New York, is now in full swing, and is absorbing a large quantity of itinerant labor released from the harvests. Mr. Royle reminds us that in the public budget, counting local, State and national governments “payments for roads are now exceeded only by expenditures for education and protection of the public peace.” He adds:
In 1906 local governments supplied 96 per cent. of the funds for roads. Today the State governments supply about 37 per cent., the Federal Government 10 per cent., and the local governments 53 per cent. The annual activity in the fall for rehabilitation of old roads and building of new ones is one of the mainstays of several industries, including cement and other building materials.
The cement industry of America has increased tremendously in the last two years. The American industry made 184,000,000 barrels of cement in 1926 and shipped 161,000,000 barrels. This was about 38,000,000 barrels under actual capacity. From this it can be seen readily how much the fall road-building campaign means to this industry. About 27 per cent. of the total domestic production is used in construction of paving and highways.
The building of highways has changed the trend of many other industries. It has been responsible in part for the development of the automobile trade. It has altered the marketing of live stock and farm products and the delivery of steel and other manufactured goods. The coming winter is expected to see more highway traffic than ever before, and States and communities are making preparations to keep the main roads open, feeling they can not have them closed by snow or other causes without suffering serious financial loss.
Related posts:
- European Touring Roads 1927
- Timber plank road through desert paved 1926
- Ice Concrete 1927
- Road Improvement in America 1916
- Beautifying Service Stations 1927
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