AORlCULTrHAL APPUOPHIATION HII.U 1024. 347 



Mr. Andkhsos. Wrll. you lUfiin that you rstnlilisti som<-)><*«|\ nlon^; 

 tho.>«' roads and Owy slop rvorylxxly tluit conu's alon^ ^ 



Mr. M.\( DoN.vi.i). Vi's. When we aro making the count, wc tnke 



tlu- (iitirc data with icfcn'iicr to thi> tralfio that is 1,'oin;; ovjt tlir 

 nunls. Thost' counts MIT takrii in cooiMM'ation \sitli the Stulo lu^jh- 

 way dr[)artnu'nt. which hius authority over thc» trnffir, but wi» have* 

 systematized the operation to such an extent that it is nossihie to 

 take the data very (piickly. This rehites to the takinj: of the traflir 

 eoinit. There are othei' stations estahhshe<l, f«'\ver in niunhrr. at 

 \\hi<'h tlie trallie is n«'tually divorte<l across scnh's and wei^jhcd to 

 «'stahhsh fa<tnrs which will (h>terrnine the weight when appUed to nil 

 other units of trallie in the State. 



Mr. .Vndkkson. Do you <^ot any objections on the part n{ people 

 who are held up and diverted and are asked for information ' 



Mr. M.vcDoNAi.i). Piactici\lly no ohiection from tliosc who u>c the 

 road in a proper manner. There has r)een some objection from tlu»so 

 who desire to overload the trucks, but the traffic census and wei^hin^ 

 has had a very salutary effect in the regulation o( such traflic on the 

 roads. For example, we found in the first traflic census tluit perhaps 

 7.") pi-r cent of tiie commercial truckers were t»verloadin<; their trucks: 

 that is, beyond the rated capacity, and they were doincj that appar- 

 ently as a nuMins of in«'reasin<x their compensation without regard to 

 the detrimental effect ujion the roads. Since scahvs were installed and 

 the traflic count has Ix'cn goin<^ on. the overloading has decreased 

 to a lar«;e extent. In other words, it has resulted in restraining the 

 ti-aflic to the le»;al loads, aiul a|)parently the investijiation has fiained 

 favor from the better class of truck operators and truck owners. 

 Truck manufacturers particularly are upholdini; it. 



I may say that the scales are installed by the State. We do not 

 c(»ntril)ute to this expense. Half or more than half of the expense 

 of the census will be paid by the State. 



Mr. Andkkso.n. In how many places is this trafhc census being 

 taken '. 



Mr. M.vcDoN.vr.i). AVe are carrving on this complete count m 

 Connecticut. We have an informal agreement with the Ma.ssachusettii 

 Highway Department, aiid we have been carrying on a less extensive 

 survey there. We have during the year taken trallie counts on the 

 county basis in Tennessee, and we have an extensive State-wide traffic 

 census now going on in California in cooperation with the California 

 Highway Department. We expect to add during the coming vear 

 similar studies in one or more typical agricultural States. Tliese 

 studies when completed we feel will give us a fair picture of the various 

 typical trallie conditions which exist ii\ the Inited States. 



Sir. Ander.sox. Wliat is this investigation the basis of — 1 mean, 

 what do you exj^ect will come out of it in the way of concrete results *. 



Mr. M.vcDo.NALi). Two very essential thinj;s will be nuitured out 

 of such studies; first, the princijiles of regulation of traflic on the 

 highways, so far as the use of motor transportation for the movement 

 of commodities antl {Passengers is concerned; and. secoiul. the fees, 

 (»r licenses, which may fairly be charged for the operation of tn..ti»r 

 vehicles upon the highways. 



These are two immeiliately important mattei-s in connection with 

 the operation of our highways, the on<> of loading, spt'cds. ami other 

 |)r()per regulations, and, the other the fair charges for tln' use of 



