44 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Hifjhways, as a general rule, are local institutions, and they must, 

 first of all, carry tlu' traHic originatin*^ in tlu' iniincdiate vicinity. 

 Their normal function, therefore, is the short haul, connecting pro 

 ducing areas with rail shipping points and near-by markets. But 

 we should classify our highways, and then follow the classification 

 persistently, to the end that, as the principal roads in each State 

 are completed, they will connect with those of contiguous States and 

 thus automatically become links in a national system which will 

 serve all parts of the country. In working out such a classification, 

 due consideration must be given to the military needs, and provision, 

 therefore, has been made for cooperation with the War Department 

 in making an extensive study to determine the roads which are 

 needed to meet them. 



TECHNICAL PROBLEMS TO BE SOLN^D. 



With the great increase in the number of vehicles using our high- 

 ways, and particularly with the greater weight of the traffic units 

 which they are now expected to carry, many technical problems in 

 highway construction have arisen. The solution of these problems is 

 essential to the wise expenditure of the large sums that have been 

 provided for construction operations. They can only be solved by 

 painstaking and thorough investigations and studies. Plans have 

 been worked out, therefore, for the prosecution of the necessary re- 

 search work, in cooperation with the National Research Council and 

 with educational institutions which have the requisite facilities. 



PROVISION FOR FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM. 



The rapid improvement in the organization of the Federal and 

 State highway departments, the development of adequate road 

 legislation in the various States, the response of the States in mak- 

 ing funds available to meet the Federal apportionments, and the 

 progress of construction work during a period beset with every possi- 

 ble discouraging condition and limitation have clearly demonstrated 

 the soundness of the existing Federal aid plan. Future legislation 

 should not disturb the principles embodied in the act of 1916, which 

 have been tried out and found to be so satisfactory, and only those 

 changes should be made which experience has clearly shown to be 

 desirable. 



The period covered by the original act, as amended, will terminate 

 with the close of the present fiscal year. Immediate consideration, 

 therefore, should be given to plans for its extension. In order that 

 there may be no halting in the work, it is hoped that the Congress 

 will, at its next session, provide additional funds, to be expended 

 under the terms of existing legislation with certain modifications, 



