The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-02-09

Harrisburg, Feb. S.-The fact that
be old bonded debt of the Common
health of Pennsylvania has been
.htirely wiped out, this week, mark
the expiration of the last of in
Irest-bearing period on the last of
pc outstanding state bonds, will be
'sed as an argument in favor of the
deposition to borrow S50,00O,000
pr the building of state roads.
| That the state is now actually out
debt, as it has been substantially
pr several years by reason of a sink
Rg fund exceeding the unpaid obli-
|htions, will strengthen Governor
bhn X. Tener's appeal to the legis-
5ture of 1913 to follow the example
the legislature of 1911 in endors-
fg the proposed constitutional
nendment to permit the state to
|brrow this money for road purposes.
+ he project will then require only
be approval of a majority of the
1bters at the November election of
b13.
The $5O,OOO,O0O loan is to be ex-
|ended in carrying out the provisions
4 the Sproul highway act of 1911,
t hich designates 5000 miles of
pads to be taken over, reconstructed
'nd maintained by the state. These
pads connect all the principal towns
nd cities in Pennsylvania, and when
bmpleted will revolutionize highway
favel in this state and place Penn
Flvania in the forefront of the states
p the matter of road building.
According to the latest United
|tates census reports available, Penn
Flvania and West Virginia are the
ply states in the Union that are out
debt. The bonded obligations of
be states run from $4,000 in Iowa
|p to STA, 100000 in Massachu-
etts.
The debt of New York state is
77,000,00O, consisting of bonds is
bed almost entirely to defray the
Expenses of constructing canals and
|ublic roads. Twenty million dollars
Forth of these bonds were issued
hly last year.
Against the s114,OOO,OOO of out
landing bonds of the state of
massachusetts, there is a sinking
|lnd of s33, 900, 900, leaving a net
|ebt of sS1,000,0OO, or s31, 100000
bore than the proposed bond in
anna. MdSSdC0uSeIIS mas
Pent this money for public improve
hents, such as good roads, parks,
|arbors, armories and the abolition
z railroad grade crossings.
The magnitude of the good roads
|rogram in Pennsylvania may be
appreciated from the fact that State
Highway Commissioner E. NJ. Bige-
Pw now has more than 800 engi-
|eers at work making surveys of the
Proposed main state highways, all of
Fhich, except some which are owned
|y private turnpike companies, are
b become the property of the COM
honweatlh the first of next June.
Where condemnation proceedings
ire necessary to obtain possession of
private roads the conclusion will be
delayed by the exigencies of litiga-
fon in the courts.
1t is fair to assume, however, that
Fhen the legislature convenes in jan
larry next, the state will be in pos
ession of 1000 miles of roads await
hg the improvement which can be
accomplished within reasonable
me only by means of bond issue.
As these roads traverse the districts
u every member OF the legislature, It
5 believed there will be little or no
to the only feasible plan
or financing the big operation, and
he same conditions will probably in
lure the approval OF the bond issue
~ the people at the polls in Novem-
)er OF next year.