The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-08-08

bloomington, ILL.,, aug t. ihii'oiS'
this month, has launched the most stu
pendous program of road building IN
the history of the world. 1t com
prises 5000 miles of vast trunk line
system, connecting all of the impor-
tant cities, and the cost will be $60,-
100000. Not a cent of it will be
borne by public taxation. The tin IL
cense tags at the front and rear OF
every motor vehicle tell the story of
the financing. There are now 100000
automobiles and trucks in Illinois.
The license fees will produce about
S7.000,0O0 per Nannum. In 20 years it
will be sufficient to pay off the princi--
pal and interest of the bond issue OF
$60,000,000, which guarantees the pay
ment for construction.
Plan Attracts Attention
The Illinois plan, first suggested,
wear ago, and which was approved by
the voters at the polls November B
last, a majority of 509,000 being given
the proposition, has attracted nation
wide attention, and similar move
ments have been launched in Arkan-
sas. Missouri, Georgia and other
States, with likelihood of favorable ac-
ton.
In years gone by Illinois expended
about $7,000,000 per annum for road
improvement through the medium OF
4,80O township highway commission
ers. Most of the work performed one
year had to be done over again the
succeeding, as it was surely tempor-
ary in character. The same old mud
holes received these millions, and the
public waste became the subject OF
campaign of reform launched by the
good roads and motor vehicles asso-
Citations. The advent Of the automo-
bile brought a new understanding OF
highway problems. 1t was realized
that the city man, driving his car for
pleasure or on business through ru-
raj community, should be made to pay
a part of the expense Of maintaining
the roads traversed. 1t was argued
that it was unfair to saddle all of the
expense upon the townships.
Patchwork Roads Before
Illinois boasts of $4,000 miles Of
highway. Seven years ago, $4,000
miles Of the most important were set
aside for Improvement by co-opefa-
tion between the State and county.
The legislature agreed to pay one-half
of the cost of building hard roads and
also permanently maintain them af-
ter construction. This was the first
movement in behalf Of good roads,
but there were disadvantages through
lack of uniformity and coordination,
and it was found that there could he
no stretches of trunk lines across the
State, but simply patchwork sys-
tenn of good and bad roads. A tourist
who found stretch of good roads in
one county was apt to find that it
connected with bottomless mudhole
in the adjoining.
In this crisis the proposal was made
that higher unit be established un-
der State control, that it be construct
ed by State bond issue, and that the
routes be selected by the legislature:
Gov. Frank o. Lowden opposed a bond
issue which would require additional
taxation. A compromise was then
effected by which the license fee for
motor cars was increased sufficient
to take care of the bond issue. The
owners of automobiles and trucks ap-
proved the idea and there has been
no opposition.
Bond Issue Popular
The campaign in behalf of the bond
issue was supported not only by the
motorists, but by bankers, merchants,
farmers, workingmen, women's clubs
in fact, all interests. Now, one year
after the campaign was first launched
tangible results are being seen. There
has been delay, due to the scarcity OF
labor and the high price and scarcity
of materials. With the return of the
soldiers, the former handicap has
been alleviated, and the work is ac-
tually underway. Illinois will soon en-
Joy the unique distinction of COM
plete highway commission, with the
State building and controlling the
main roads, the counties and town
ships controlling the feeders or later
ais. The cost is borne by all of the
people, those of the city as we'll as
those of the country, but only by peo'
pie who own motor vehicles. The
State realizes that the city and coun'
try are interdependent, and that eact
contributes to the we'll being and pros
perity of the other. The social, edu
cational and healthful advantages OF
good roads are so apparent that this
point requires no exploitation or dis
cussion. Their economic worth is {
thing that Illinois has just learned.
Amortization Plan Safe
Financiers assert that the amorti.
cation plan by which the bonds anc
the interest are to be liquidated il
absolutely safe. What Illinois has
done, other States can do, with, Of
course, varying notifications to con
form to local conditions, and to meet
local requirements. The Illinois plar
holds fair to. become universal as its
merits are realized. The distinctive
feature is the scheme by which the
motor license fees take care of the
principal and interest. This year
cars of 10 horse power or less pay s
license fee of $3.50. Next year ant
thereafter it will be Sc. Cars o.
horsepower between 10 and 25 nov
pay Sc. Next year the fee will be SO
A proportionate increase is fixed fol
larger type of machines. Motorcy
cles have been taxed So. Next yea
the fee will be $4. The smaller type
of electric cars now pay $40. Mex