The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-04-28

Surely i, bchooves your people TO construct improved
roads now while you have at hand the natural resources
of the state Later perhaps would cost the agri-
cultural interests considerable more money TO build the
roads.
Il wish that il was possible for me 10 show your peo.
pie what important part improved road construction
would play in the lie OF your state. II means health,
comfort and riches TO its people Everybody can use a
highway aud ,l classes served by it, and 1t relieves
to great extent the burden of the poor man aud helps
TO reduce the high OF living. Good read, that
food be brought TO the markets cheaper and that
plies be delivered to the farm, cheaper Good roads
will bring people to your already prosperous state. II
mean. that they will become better acquainted with yor
and YOU will become better acquainted with each other
That letter also another OF Cruces main con-
tenons namely that the proposed bill /, unfair to the
farmers.
Do you suppose the Mississippi farmer. whose land
by the coming OF good roads increased value from
IS to $50 per acre. objects to the part OF the good road
cost he pays
We have in mind farmer who sold his land 10
avoid paying taxes a drainage ditch lie got SIS
per acre. II he had kept the land until the drainage
ditch in operation he could have sold for 500 per
Do you think that man who sold for 25 now
thanks the harbnger of who advised him to sell and
avoid the taxi
The fact of the matter is il any get, the best OF
in this bill. the farmer does By its term, hard sur
face road is built by state money within the limits OF in
corporaed towns or cities-ony through the country,
The ex-governor objects TO the fact that provision for
bridge building is not contained in the bill lie sppar-
emily forgets that the routes outlined follow present
main travelled highways on which most bridge conStruc
ton, a, county expense already has been completed.
He emphasizes the highway department argument,
which already has been advanced many times by Senator
Thomas. lie thinks the present state highway depart
should be able to take this job OF building
some 1000 odd miles OF hard surface road.
Summed up this contenton-much emphasized by op-
ponen, to the bond bill generally-pesumes that the
greatest single task In state history be done without
extra help. ID YOU believe Il cam II you were in
charge OF manufacturing plant and If suddenly abb
normally large order given you TO fill would YOU
try to NEE. the demand with your present force would
YOU hire mem The answer TO that question an
the whole le, the present highway department do
It. proposition
Cruce is alarmed over the clause in the bill which
pledges the entire of the state to the bond
debt lie should know. having been governor that
such clause must go in every law that provides Tor
bonding state. municipality, or county. II means
more than would clause AT the bottom OF a mans
signature TO personal no,e-,hat the mans entire re-
sources are pledged to meet the obligation The specific
source of the revenue by which these bonds will he met
has been determined in the lawthe automobile and the
gross production taxes All estimates TO agree that
these taxes will be sufficient Naturally. however The
states whole resources are back of this OF any state
debt
lhcee points by Cruce have been takcp up so in he.
tail for the that the one who has not thought eS-
tcnsvely the road bond subject. has not studied
carefully iroM both affirmative and negative sides,
nigh, be appealed to strongly by the ex-governor az.
Sertions
The Cruce statsmen, sound, plausibe-on first read.
ing II is well written But. anayred 1t resolves itself
into very shallow preacbment, penny-wse pound
foolish doctrine OF false economy based apparently on
very little information and whole LOT Of msnfotma.
ton
We suspect that the governors reading OF The road
bill performed while riding IN a Ford one Of
those backbiesknP nerve.racking. unimprovcd ard
economical roads whvs he 50 gallant espouses.