PAGE FOUK firestone MlWi JUNE 25, 1955 Good Highways Needed For Defense, Economic Progress A long-range building program for an adequate highway system in the United States will mean thousands of new jobs for American workers. That a desperate need for an adequate highway system exists, there can be no doubt. Every expert in the field agrees that the need exists, that it is urgent, and that immediate action should be taken. * S|! * AN ADEQUATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM is needed for the survival of the nation in time of war and for the full development of the econo my of the country in time of peace. Our high way system must be geared to future needs to permit the continued expansion of the national economy for the benefit of all. Such a system also is necessary in the interest of traffic safety. These are the needs, every one of them of basic importance. * ^ * IF A GIGANTIC EFFORT to meet these needs is made in getting a highway building program under way—and only a gigantic ef fort will do—here is what roads can mean in terms of jobs: Jobs by the thousands will be created to get done the task of modernizing our highway system—jobs manning bulldozers, paving ma chines, picks and shovels, and additional thous ands of new jobs of producing cement, sand, gravel, stone, slag, asphalt, tar, steel, lumber. * * sK ACCORDING TO THE U. S. Department of Labor, the 1954 average of 220,000 workers actually engaged in road construction will go to 500,000 by 1960. That is, provided an adequate program is undertaken nationwide and in the near future. In addition to this economic stimulus for the American economy, other benefits will nat urally follow for every working man in the country who drives a car. And 65 per cent of all workers drive to their jobs. A modern interstate highway system will provide everyone with quicker, safer and cheap er transportation, not only to work, but to what ever destination a person’s car is driven. * * * AN AMERICAN JOB-HOLDER pays an estimated $775 a year to operate his car. Part of this sum is wasted because of our outmoded highways. It is wasted in excessive gasoline consumption, extra wear on brakes and other unnecessary operating costs. In all, the sum of $3 billion a year is wasted in this way. That amounts to an average of $100 a car. Of particular interest to those in the rub ber industry is this fact; that because of our poor roads, some people are using their cars less and less. They prefer not to drive at all in the jungles of city traffic. If this trend is allow ed to continue, some traffic experts predict severe restrictions may be applied to the use of automobiles. A blueprint is not needed to forecast the result of the rubber industry. 4s ^ ^ BUT WHAT CAN AN INDIVIDUAL DO in a situation as vast and complex as this one? The answer is that you can do what everyone can and should do, and that is to “talk it up” every day_ among your friends, to members of your family and others. The most effective thing you can do is to make known to your Senators and Representatives that you are aware of the deplorable state of the country’s highways and that as their constituents you want their help to put over in Congress a high way system that will meet the needs of today and the future. Your Senators are: Hon. Sam J. Erwin and Hon. Kerr Scott, The Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. Your Congressman is Hon. Woodrow Jones, Washington 25, D. C. Employees Give To Blood Bank (Continued from page 3) MARY M. CHILDERS, Edna Howard, Junior R. Bingham, Lu cille M. Baker, Ray D. Thomas, Carmon F. Robinson, Purvie Clon- inger, John Foster, Grady L. Davis, Cramer J. McDaniel, William F. Hogan, Lloyd Smith, Roland B. Jolly, Ray W. England, Coy J. Davis, Paul Powers. William M. Moore, Wilson Glis- son, Katherine Davis, Myrtle Brad ley, Walter R. Barnes, Walter H. Watterson, Eva Henson, Jurlene Strickland, Margaret Rhyne, Doro thy N. Couick, J. C. Barnes, James M. Cooper, Thomas E. Bradley, Odell Thomas, Clinton Guffey, Hat tie Stacy, Ronald R. Beaver, W. 0. Stephenson, J. A. Haney, Ben T. Hanna. ♦ * * ROBERT S. BRYANT, Sam F. Honeycutt, Ruth L McCreight, Myriel Horton, Francis B. Galligan, Phillip Williams, Oscar W. Hart, C. M, Horton, Dorothy W. Owens- by, Roy M, Chastain, Sallie E. Crawford, Charlie M. Plyler, Eula Wilson, Vernon Treece. Ollie Liles, Johnny T. Jones, Thomas A. Grant, William R. Turn er, Jr., John T. Crane, Eulalia Brock, Thurmon B. Davis, Lois P. Bolding, Shirley P. Bolding, Win ston Phillips, Thomas A. Ramsey, Opal Bradley, Bobbie Baldwin, Nellie H. Stowe, John A. Verdery. Vigilance Helps Cancer Control Many deaths from cancer occur because the patient waits too long to see a doctor about the symptoms, Dr. John R. Bond, chairman Gaston County Unit of the American Cancer Society, said in a re cent letter which commended Firestone employees for their contribution to the Cancer Crusade for 1955. Dr. Bond urged that each one who contributed read one of the leaflets or posters that the Society puts out. He advised each person to have at least one complete physical examination a year, “This is the only way that you can find early cancer which has a good chance of being cured,” he said. Dr. Bond urged employees to visit the local cancer center, or to let the personnel there know of in digent cases of cancer immediately. “That way,” he said, an individual can receive help—in time.” The local county office is located at 232 East Main Avenue. It is open on Tuesdays from 2 to 4 p. m., and on Fridays from 10 a. m., to 12 noon. The telephone, listed under “American Cancer Society,” is 4-1271, Program Stresses Safety During Vacation With children now on vacation from school, there is need for special emphasis on child safety. The Safety Committee of the Gas tonia Chamber of Commerce urges that parents not only teach their children to observe traffic rules and general home safety precautions, but also by setting the proper example for them in safety practices. A committee charged with the meeting of this objective is com posed of L. B. McAbee, Firestone Textiles, Chairman; W. G. Hardin, Rex Mills; Rivers Scruggs, Akers Motor Lines. ANNIVERSARY IMPRESSIONS Tours Brought Varied Reactions Visitors’ interest in technological advancement, the variety of products made from Firestone Textiles materials, and the frequent expressions of good will for the Company were high on the list of reactions gained by Firestone News reporters during the 20th Anni versary Open House week here in early May. Questions asked by the touring public ranged from “How do 1 apply for a job at Firestone?” to “How many yards of fabric does that loom weave in 8 hours?” Among frequently noted improvements were the speed of the looms, the modern automatic equipment, and production efficiency. Most often noted was the giant plastic dip cord-treating equipment. So complete did the industrial revolution appear that one veteran who was employed here from 1908 to 1924, “couldn’t find a thing that looked familiar.” Many visitors were impressed by the evidence of safety procedures in the plant. Hundreds paused in the plant entrance for a look at the flowers and the display centered around the bust of Harvey S, Firestone, Sr., founder of the Company. HELP YOUR YOUNGSTER TO BE A SAFER BIKE RIDER m Before you permit your young ster to ride a bicycle on the road—Check the condition of the bike itself — handle bars tight, coaster brake in good working condition, tires not worn. Is the bike the right size to handle easily? Does the bike have a carrier or basket so that hands are free for steer ing, a light and rear reflector for riding after dark? Teach your rider — to use proper hand signals, ride only one on a bike and only single file in a group on the road, ob serve warning signs and traffic lights. There should be no swerving or fooling on bikes on the street. Teach him to be alert for vehicle traffic. AMERICAN MUTUAL LIAB. INS. CO. raiNTID IN U. S. A. News In Brief (Continued from page 3) nieces. Misses Shirley and Judy White of Lenoir, visiting them. Mrs. Jean Brock, main office, and her husband, Connie Brock, have returned from a two-week vacation at Santee Cooper River, S. C. The annual Kaylor Reunion was held Sunday, May 21 at the home of J. R. Kaylor on the Oakwood Road, Gastonia. Attending were Mrs. Mildred Mack, daughter of J. R. Kaylor; Raymond Mack, Laboratory; Mrs. Gladys Nygard, Main Office; Miss Maude Jordan, Twisting De partment; and other relatives. There were 89 relatives present at the reunion. Steve Smith, son of Clerk John P. Smith, has been awarded the Varsity A Athletes Award for participation in football, ibasketball and baseball at Arlington Junior High School for 1954 and 1955. Carol McAllister, daughter of Mrs. Ruby McAllister, cloth burler, played in a piano recital which was held at the Woman’s Club, Gastonia, recently. FIRESTONE TEXTILES P. O. BOX 551 GASTONIA, N. C. SEC. 34.66 P. L. & R. U. S. POSTAGE PAID GASTONIA, N. C. PERMIT NO. 29 Form 3547 Requested
