GOOD ROADS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1921, Page 9

GOOD ROADS.

AMERICA’S EXAMPLE. “Probably the first thing to do in the interests of good roads in the metropolis is to establish immediately a Greater Sydney,” says Superintendent Alfred Edwards, superintendent of traffic in the Police Department. Mr. Edwards, who only recently returned from a trip abroad, says the roads of America are a revelation to an Australian visitor, used as he is to execrable road surfaces- in his own country. “Throughout the length jand breadth of the United- States, with very few exceptions, the roads have a beautiful level concrete surface, ranging from 16ft to 30ft in width,” he adds. “A strong effort is now being made to complete the Lincoln Highway to connect New York with San Francisco, a distance of about 3500 miles. In the extreme States this highway is already completed, and strong pressure is being used upon the centre States to make their portion, snd link up with the outer States. The greatest credit must be given to the Americans for pride in their cities and their /country. This good roads movement costs a lot of money, but those who have contributed to it, and now have the good roads, agree time and time again to further expenditure and consequent higher taxation. The whole of the people now realise the benefit of good roads and the absolute economy of the practice of properly making the road-bed and surface in the first instance.

NO LOOSE METAL. “The whole country could be searched in vain for one example of the frequent exhibitions common to Australia, and particularly round the metropolis, of loose metal thrown on the roadway, even without blinding, and left to be rolled into shape by the rub-

ber tyres of motor vehicles and other traffic. If this occurred in the United States citizens would immediately arise in search of the road surveyor or other ■person responsible. Every city and municipality or road authority has a complete set of motor vehicles necessary for preparing and mixing concrete, and the same for asphalt for the top surface. A solid first layer of concrete is laid in a properly-prepared bed. Frequently this is left for a year or more, and is ample for the purposes required. It is then covered with an asphalt surface, which is continuously maintained in perfect order and condition.

“So useful have /thpse roads been found that they-are continuously used by passenger or goods motor vehicles, and a cheaper and more expeditious service is given to residents than they ever previously experienced. One instance may be quoted. From San Francisco to Los Angeles is over 500 miles, and during the day excellent motor vehicles leave each city almost hourly. Passengers can go clean through <r break their journey or transfer to many side roads, where branch motor services of equally good quality are constantly running. Hundreds of convenient routes of this description would be practicable in New South Wales if the roadway were properly constructed, and the residents would immediately reap the benefits.

r £l 0,000,000 FOR ROADS. “Throughout California, particularly, the roads aite excellentlly made and maintained. Each city, each county, and the State also, raises road bonds for the making of main roads. The

State a few years ago made a good start with a loan of ten million pounds for new roads. They were so pleased with the result that they are now considering repeating the loan. Strange as it may appear to residents of Australia, the people strongly support the raising of these large sums for roadmaking. Their battlecry is, ‘Get together; no knocking.’ The motor tax amounts to a considerable sum annually in each of the States and the whole of this revenue is used for the upkeep of roads.

“There are many examples in America where tunnels havlp been made through huge hills-, some for trams, some for vehicles and pedestrians, and all well lit by electricity. It is quite practicable to make these tunnels for all three purposes, and consideration might be given to the connecting of Sussex street with Circular quay, and the latter with Woolloomooloo. Such tunnels would considerably reduce the congestion of the narrow roadways of Sydney, and remove the necessity of carting heavy loadings up the steep hills from the waterfronts.”