The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-02-06
Communications
Laitetown, Utah, Feb. 1, 1918.

Gsitetown, Utah, FEB. |, 1915.
To The Salt Lake Trlbune-1n a News
Ing Tor Roads the proposition TO bond
tho state Tor one or TWO million dollars
for the sake Of improving the roads Is
designated mot necessary. net
wise, mot patriotic
In view of the benefits that are rc-
corded to have accrued TO thc various
terest in this subject, together with
benefits that maY be observed III our
own state throumh tho amounts .Xpcud-
ed in tho past few ycara on roads. ihls
statement. on thc part OF the News, aP
pears TO us as startliusly reactlonary,
The committee representing tho Com
meTclal club OF salt Lake. ogden. Provo
torcyclo clubs of Utah, was of the oplu-
ion that every citizen was now convinced
OF the necessity uf more good roads and
proceeded 10 devise Ways and means TO
secure them.
Tho only avenue open. through which
an amount adequate 10 make the roads
available TO the citizens in the least pos
sible ume, would he through the credit
Of the state.
It was and is not tine purpose of the
committee 10 ask for the Issuance OF
bonds to bc red decmed out OF the general
funds of the state by future genera
tions." But 10 ask for the credit of the
state in the amount OF 1870, 600, TO be
divided equally among the counties and
to provide for "a fund TO pay tho inter-
est on the bonds and provide sinking
fund for payment OF the bonds, through
an annual license on all vehicles using
The roads.
The auto and the motorcycle people
expressed a Willingness 20 pay 80
cents per horsepower II necessary, on
their vehicles. anG claimed they would
be compcnsa ted through tire wear alone,
The freishtcrs and horse dra wn vehicle
people expressed the opinion that these
users Of roads would freely contribute q
reasonable amount annually on their ve-
hicles.
From the information gathered Of the
motor cars now used in the state and a
conservative estimate Of horse-draWD
vehicles. an annual license Of so cents
per horsepower on motor vehicles and j.
like amount on horse-drawn vehicles
would give yearly revenue Of 500, 900,
An amount with increase or use Of We
hIcles as roads were bettered, in the
opinion of the committee. that would
take care OF the bonds asked, and the
maintenance also OF the roads.
The annual license tax would opera te
In the nature Of a toll and at far less
expense. Who, having had occasion to use
one Of the toll roads of the past in Utah,
has regretted the amount OF toll paid to
get over such roads. when the money
was honestly expended for the building
and upkeep OF said roads7
You will pardon tho committee for pre-
sumfns the News has not had a full un-
derstanding OF the intentions OF the peo-
pie who are behind the proposition fol
bonding for better roads. or certainly we
What interest is burdened by such a
scheme except the vehicle owners ano
road users? And they ask for the nedi-
cine 10 secure relief.
What interest is not benefited by
! better roads,
| Can II be that the indirect beueficiagies
would refuse to loan the states credit.
and that ls all this proposition amounts
| TO, for such worthy cause and public
use?
The words mot wise" mot necessary.
| in the opening paragraph may admit Of
some argument; but tho words mot
| patriotic" certainly are harsh, and IN
view OF the vehicle people being willing
to pay a license for such a purpose. as
well as having the vehicles taxed for the
general fund until such time as an
amendment OF the constitution can be
secured 10 provide otherwise. is unfair
| In a former editorial OF the News, q
query was raised as TO why certain
! counties showed such small increase
In popula tion In last decade and in som'
a falling OF.
The prime cause Is bad roads. W.
must have better transportation facIli.
ties 10 get TO the oeDters of pcpula.
ton with our products at less cost anc
more ease or we will be induced TO NOV,
20 the cities where good roads and paw
Ing are enjoyed, and all try to live BY
one half trading with the other half
Respectfully.
knITTT-A NE7T2UyL-E@n