The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-03-19
IS = "a "a.
: OFFERED BY WELL {:
KNOWN LOCAL man
THINKS EVERYBODY SHOULD
VOTE FOR GOOD ROADS con-
STITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

! The following article written espec-
ially for the Banner-News by local
man who has long been thorough
and consistent advocate of good roads
will be Of value to some of our read
ers who would like more information
the amendment which is to be voted
upon at the coming election:
Thinking perhaps some of the vot-
ers do not thoroughly understand the
reasons for the present change in the
constitution authorizing the legisla-
tare TO issue up to $50,000,000 in
highway bonds, few facts may help
to enlighten some of you.
In the first place, it is not the in
tention of the Legislature to issue
the entire $50,00O,00 in bonds at any
one time. The amendment simply
gives them the authority to issue up
to $4,000, 900, and the plan is that
this shall be issued in small amounts
as the highway department need them
DO work to the most economical and
efficient advantage. Probably at no
time would the issue exceed in any
one year $5,000,000, and these pay
ments will un loubtedly be arranged
serially so that the bonds will all be
paid up and taken care of at the END
Of the 25-year period, payments being
made yearly after the first five years.
There has been some question as
to the ACCESSIBILITY of issuing bonds
in preference to making a direct tax
each year covering the needs of the
department, but unfortunately one
legislature cannot make an appropria-
ton covering the period beyond the
two years that they are in office,
and this does not give the highway
department sufficient assurance that
the next legislature will do the same
in the way of appropriations, so they
can plan or lay out a comprehensive
program covering period of 10 years
which is what thew desire to do.
1t is the intention Of the highway
department of the state to fill in all
of the missing gaps in the present
trunk line highway system with the
most serviceable type of road de~
manded, which will be governed Of
course by the amount Of traffic on the
particular section that is being made.
Some of the trunk line systems re-
quires hard surfacing or pavement
while in other sections the traffic IS
sufficiently light to enable them to
use gravel TO advantage.
The Aldrich bill which has recently
been passed puts the road building
expense in the different counties on
an entirely different basis. AS it
stands now the state bears a percent
age of the actual cost whereas in the
past it has simply allowed a stipu-
lated amount per mile regardless OF
the cost of the road.
This percentage varies according to
the wealth and population of the diff
ferent counties. the poorer counties
getting more help than the richer
ones. In Ionia county the state
paws one-half the cost. This is a
very material increase over the oil.
reward which we used to get on trunk
line highways of 71,700 per mile and
in addition REQUIRES that patrol sys-
tenn be maintained at all times en- the
trunk line roads TO insure the proper
maintenance of the road bed This
should have decidedly beneficial eff
feet on the roads as it will not permit
them to deteriorate end become worn
out as is the case oftentimes now on
an improved road which in many cas-
es lacks the necessary attention at
the time it should be given.
The United States government in
offering to help in their road building
program. requires that the indidivual
state raise an equal amount of mo-
ney for highway purposes to the
amount offered by the federal gov
erpment. and should some future leg
islature refuse the necessary appro-
priation and we had no right tn bond
we would lose this federal did he
cause we could not match dollar for
dollar the funds they offered
This together with the fact that it
is impossible for the highway depart
ment to arrange AGO mprehensive pro-
gram covering period of wears is
the strongest argument in favor of
the bond issue, and arranging these
bonds as they intend to do. serially.
keeps the expense to a very small
amount
Figures compiled by the insurance
department at Lansing show that the
state can issue $50,000,000 at the
rate of $4,000, 900 per year and pay
off the entire amount at the end of
% wears at tax cost of CSC on each
81 900 of assessed valuation. This
is using the present state valuation
which naturally before the expiration
of % years will very materially in
crease and as a consequence reduce
this tax rate, so that a man today
who is assessed $4,000 would have to
pay s1.36 toward this highway inn
provement.
This constitutional amendment will
give the state funds and place them in
a position to take advantage of all
county and federal aid to the extent
that instead of being able to improve
roads to the extent of $4,000, 900, the
amount received will total approx
mately 100000, 900, and not add any
thing to the state expense beyond the
original amount, so that by support
ing this bond issue you are getting
practically $500 for S1.00 and it will
all go into permanent highway i'm
provement and at the end of ten
years Michigan will stand as one of
the first states in improved high
ways.
Every voter should support this
constitutional amendment.