The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-04-15


of road by direct taxation was too
burdensome, and they voted bonds
for 100000.
every other state, really building
good roads, has adopted the bond
plan.
This system distributes the burden
equally upon all property, and this is
right, because all property is bene-
fife.
Either of two ways may be adopt
ed to take care of these bonds: Serial
bonds can be provided for and por-
ton of the bonds paid off annually,
after, say five years, or they can be
permitted to run until maturity. The
last plan is more generally adopted,
particularly in the west, where prop
erty is enhancing so rapidly in value
, that long before the maturity of the
bonds they will have been paid by
this enhanced value many times over.
As this is a scheme to enrich posterity
almost beyond comprehension, it
would seem to be but fair that pos
terity should bear some portion of
| the burden.
There are 1895, 280 acres of land
in Missouri. If 11,400 miles of road
costs $68,400,0O0 and the enhanced
value of real estate alone by reason
| thereof, be the minimum of five dol
| lars per acre, the profit will amount
to S215,781 900. If>These roads were
built right, the $5,000,000 annually
now wasted on her dirst roads would
more than keep them in repair. The
assessed value of farm land in Mis-
souri, in 1914 was sass, 972, 026 and of
all other property was 81 1886, 661 ,432
hence farms, vastly more benefited
than other property, will only pay
about $22,872,345 of the cost of build
ing these hard surfaced roads, OF
about one third the total cost. Eleven
counties carry the average cost ABOVE
/ $1.00 per acre, the other 103 counties
reduces the average to SO cents pei
acre for 20 years, or 3-5 per acre
annually.
/ 1t should be remembered that as
sessments and levies are constantly
changing. These figures are basee
principally upon the assessment o.
1914, and while they are substantially
correct, yet they are not presumed K
be absolutely so. However, they fur
, nish sure guide to a correct calcu
!, lation which can easily be made IL
; each county.
|. Except the trunk line railways, tn,
system of county highways. as outiin
ed, would be of much greaeer value
to the average citizens. And do no
; forget that we pay from $4,000 t,
$4,000 per mile for the "jerkwater
railway whether we issue bonds TO
them or not, and when we cease to d.
so they Immediately go into the hand
: of a receiver.
As to State System.
$500 miles at an average
!. cost of $4,000 per mile
will be ..............$2 l ,Oo0,0U
t Deduct government APP
4 priation already made =. 100000
i S18,5Oo,oo
n The Halves bill, which has passe
4 the house of representatives to es
!, tablish state system of highway:
!. provides that the state, assisted b
0 the government appropriation, sha
!, pay one-half the cost of any stat
h highway and the county throug
5 which it runs the other half. Thu
approximately 100 counties out {
the ia in the state viii get well
built state road at one-half its cos
The amount thus saved in each {
: the said counties in this state can b
n applied on other roads. Long befol
, this system can be completed sim
lar legislation will connect up II
counties not receiving direct benefit
by this act. Therefore, approximate
~, 100 counties would pay one-half {
So cents, or 26 cents per acre in {
years, or Ia cent per acre annual
on all state roads runnin gthroue
such counties. 100 acres would
charged a total tax for such roac
of $500 in 20 years, or 10 cents {
h l 80 acres &NSTsailY.
If this bill becomes Jaw Il win I