The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-04-24

4 second Otate rsnSlneerhB Dcpait
nent with Chief Engineer, assistant
engineers, inspectors, craftsmen, stem
ographers and clerks.
rs. What will be the cost to the
people Of the new offices and depart
nents created by the bond resolution?
Ans. II is estimated that the admin
lstratiye, clerical, engineering and SUI
pervising expenses will be ten per CEN
.um OF the total expenditure or the
sum OF s5,OO0,000
is. What is the present bonded
iebt OF the State Of Oklahoma2
Ans. The present bonded debt OF
he State and its several subdivisions
is in excess OF Seventy-Five Million
Dollars In addition to the foregoing
Il is estimated that our part Of the
great national war debt is in excess
Of Two Hundred Fifty Million Dollars.
II this proposed road bond debt is vot-
I'd we will have total bonded or mort
gagged debt upon this State OF approx
mately Four Hundred Million Dollars.
! II. Is the State Of Oklahoma ready
to begin the construction Of the pro-
posed improvement on so vast scale
as proposed in the Resolution?
Ans. No. All agree that we do not
have the experience; do not have the
egineering ability; do not have road
I building material located and avail
able: do not know the best kinds OF
roads to construct; do not have ma
chinery and competent contractors to
start the work on so large plan and
/ that II the $50, 100000 is voted, expert.
ments will have to be made before
we are ready to adopt plans and spec.
I iflcations for permanent system OF
durable hard surfaced roads.
! 1s. Is there another way to finance
road building besides the voting Of a
fifty million mortgage upon the State
Ans. Yes. We now have available
and can secure during the next two
years more money for building roads
han we can possibly spend efficiently
all without voting in any sum. The
Federal Government is now rendering
us approximately s6,00O,o0O on condi.
tion that we meet such sum with a
like amount. The Federal aid Of &c..
100000 together with $4,000, 900 appro.
priated by the State makes total sum
Of 100000 available for road build.
ing during the next two years and this
sum Is more than we can properly
spend during the next biennium.
10. Can we raise the six million
dollars with which to meet the FEEDER.
! al aid during the next two years with,
out q State bond issue?
Ans. Yes. We can raise Three NIL.
lion Dollars per year or Six Million
Dollars in two years and the taxes
will not be higher than II we vote tho
bonds. Under present law we can
raise some Eleven Million Dollars In
revenues. annually. and Of this sum II
takes about Seven Million to maintain
State Government. so that we have
about Four Million dollars to meet
Federal aid. which is One Million Dol.
lars more than In necessary. Other
States. after years Of experience in
road building. are able to spend only
about Five Million Dollars annually.
30 with the Federal aid Of Three Mfl.
lion Dollars annually. and with the
Four Million Dollars We can raise.
makes a possible fund of Seven Nil,
lion Dollars per year. ALL without q
State bond issue. Under the bond
plan Of financing road construction be,
fore the present administration is over,
We will be paying some Four Million
Dollars as principal and interest DOR
annum and OF this Four Million Dol
lars. one-half will be for interest.
20. What about road bulidinu AFTER
the next two years on the pay.asyov.
90 plan?
Ans. Congress has established the
policy Of Federal Aid to the States
and IL the States make a. success OF
road building. the Government through
our Senators and Congressman, will
give us as much money from year to
year as we can meet by State Appro-
priation and this policy will give us
all the money we can possibly spend
in building roads. This is the correct
policy and II We follow 1t we will lose
nothing In interest and will have the
benefit Of the experience and advice
OF the best Government engineers IN
building and maintaining our roads.
n. " the Fifty Million Dollar Road
Bond issue 10 defeated, What may We
expect In the way Of road building In |
Oklahoma?
Ans. II the Resolution is defeated, |
universal demand will be made upon |
the Governor to call a special session !!
OF the Legislature to make an appro.
priation to meet the Federal Aid OF. |
fered us in the sum Of approximately
$6,OO0,oo0. Such special session can
be called, the necessary bills prepared
advance and the session should not
last to exceed ten days and should not
cost to exceed sl5,o00.o0. This proceed.
ure will eliminate the $50, ,00o. 900 mort !
gage on the State; will avoid the crea. |
tion OF second duplicated Highway
Department; will avoid the payment |
n