The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-04-29

AS a companion measure to the Con-
stttutional Amendment the recent Leg
islature enacted new automobile Ii
cense law by the terms of which the
revenues derived by the State from
automobile license fees have been in
creased to the point weere such reve-
nues Will be more than sufficient and
after two or three years will be more
than sufficient to retire the bond is
sue and pay all accruing interest
thereon. The issuance and sale Of
the $5O,OO0,00O OF bonds will, there
fore not increase to any ex-
tent whatever the general taxes
which the people of the State will be
required to pay. 1t is not to be UNI
derstood that. this system of roads
will not cost the people anything. It
will cost them about $70000,0O0 but
the entire cost will be borne by the
automobile owners Of the State and the
Federal Government and the States
share will be contributed annually in
the form Of the automobile license fees.
Automobile owners do not object to
paying this increase in license fees il
the roads are to be built out Of it.
In fact they are anxious to pay it If
thereby they can get this system Of
hard surface roads.
The designation of the routes in the
Amendment is a guarantee to the peo-
pie that the roads will be built along
these routes. The voting of the $780,
100000 of bonds and making the fund
available to meet appropriations by
Congress in aid Of road construction
is a guarantee to the people that a
sufficient amount of money has been
provided to construct the entire sys-
TEN. The people know in advance
where the roads will be located and
built and what the system is going to
cost them. The plan is submitted to
them in advance of any appropriation
or any construction work for them to
express their approval or rejection Of
the proposition. If the people want
these roads built they will vote for
the amendment. If they do not want
them, they will vote against it.
Those who are opposing the Amend
ment protest constantly that they are
for a Statewide system of hard sur
faced roads, and admit that Oklaho-
ma needs this system, but they insist
that there is another and better plan
to acquire the roads. 1t is no time to
bubble about the plan. Any plan that
will provide the roads will satisfy the
great majority of the people of this
State. Oklahoma needs to be pulled
out of the mud, The people have the
opportunity in the adoption of this
Amendment to do that, and at the
same time increase the market value
of lands in Oklahoma to the extent of
four or five times the amount of mon
ey invested in building the roads.
There is no one thing that will bring
to Oklahoma so much in the way Of
prosperity, or aid so materially in pro-
viding employment for the returning
soldiers, sailors and other unemployed
as will the building at this time of
Statewide system of hard surfaced
roads, and public work of such a ma
true was urged by President Wilson in
his message to the last Con gress that
there might be no cause for Bolshe-
vism in America.
The building of these roads will bet
ter rural conditions in Oklahoma. The
States future depends upon her roads.
Well constructed roads mean better
schools in the rural districts. The
country children of Oklahoma are en-
titled to as good school facilities as
our town children enjoy. Good roads
mean social betterment. "No man liv-
eth unto himself alone"
DON'T RETARD THE PROGRESS
OF OKLAHOMA-VOTE YES,
Respectfully submitted,