The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-03-05
HELP PULL
MICHIGAN our
OF THE MUD
1T is CLAIMED PROPOSED GOOD
ROADS SYSTEM WILL MAKE
MICHIGAN BANNER STATE.


the proposed plan to bond the state
for the sum of $50,000,000 for the
purpose CT building good roads
throughout the state and still at the
same time have not heard enough
about it to understand it as clearly
as they might, and should, We are
publishing circular which we have
received from the men who advocate
the adoption of the proposed system.
The first is statement from Gov
ernor Sleeper in which he shows that
he is very favorable to the measure
being carried and then follows anum-
Der of questions which have been
asked regarding it, together with am
swers which have been made to them.
The matter is one which, if all right
should pass almost unanimously and
if not right should be thoroughly
shown up to be so before the measure
comes before the voters on election
day, April z.
Zone of the big projects we have
on hand in this state is that of good
roads, and it is an undertaking that
touches every one of us. There IS
not a man, woman or child in Michi-
gan who would not be directly benefit
ted by the establishment Of general
system of good roads, apd l want to
do what ! can to help along the good
roads program.
.sThe voters of the state will soon
be called upon to favor an amend
ment to our constitution that will
give the legislature of Michigan the
power and authority to issue road
bonds as necessity may require
Michigan ought to be, and with the
right kind of roads would be, the
greatest touring state in the Union.
We have the summer climate and the
other natural advantages that attract
automobilists. Two hundred thou
sand tourists would spend, at mod
crate estimate, million dollars day,
seven millions week, thirty millions
month; and this is only fraction
Of the direct financial benefit that
would accrue to the state, if we had
the roads.
Therefore. / earnestly appeal 20
every voter to go to the polls on the
7th day of April and cast ballot
YES for the amendment and Good
Roads. "-Governor Albert E. Sleeper.
A few questions and direct answers
! regarding the constitutional amend
ment
Hundreds cf questions have been
asked and letters received which dem
onstrate the necessity of making q
clear statement to the voters bf
Michigan to the end that they shall
have full and comprehensive under.
standing of the proposed comstitu-
tional amendment regarding gooc
roads. Some people have the idea
that to vote yes means that the legis.
lature is to Immediately take proceed.
ing to bond the state for so millions
and to spread the same Immediately
upon the taxable property of the
state. This is only an example OF
widespread misinfcrmation. The OBJ
! ject and purpose of this article is Il
explain the real object and purpos<
and to make clear the reasons why
every progressive and patriotic citi
zen should vote yes. 1t is deemed
wise to ask and answer few ques
| tons.
1. What does it mean and whai
are the reasons fer issuing bonds
Why not levy a direct tax?
i If it was desirable to raise a suf
i ficient amount to build a state wild,
system of roads and pay the enor
nous tax in one year, it would not b,
necessary to bond. In making per
manent improvements that will liv,
with the years and that future gener
atoms, shall have the benefit of, i
would seem only just and right TO
those who shall come after US, shall
help and assist in paying for tn,
things in which they have a direc
benefit. By issuing the bonds of tn,
state we are enabled to carry the bur
den ever a number of years and max,
the tax very light from year to year
If township were to build woodeI
bridge that would soon wear out, i
would not be wise to issue the bond,
of the township running ever a mum
Der of years. You would rather pay
for it now because it is not of a per
manent character. If, however, yol
were to build steel bridge or one o.
concrete, that would last with tn,
years and require large amount t,
construct, it would only be just ant
right that such a permanent struc
ture should be paid for in part at leas
by those who shall come after us an,
share in the benefits. Are we read,
to make a Christmas present to flu
ture generations?
2. What does it mean to vote We,
on the proposed constitutional amend
ment?
It means simply that we will Civ,
to the legislature the power and au
thority to issue road bonds as neces
sity may require. Our main lin,
roads must be built first. The fed
eral government has and will distri
butte to- the various states a larg,
amount of money on the basis of wha
is called. $3.50. The federal govern
ment will give to Michigan a million
or 10 million or whatever amount II
may be, conditioned, however, thai
Michigan shall put up a like amount
In other words. the federal govern
ment pays one-haf and the state o,
Michigan and the local communities
will pay the remaining one-half. II
however, our state neglects or refuses
to come across with its share Of the
money, the federal government will
0l4frIhnfo fkn ~ tIxo skak~~ 49,