Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1919-01-30

z The next step in road betterment
in Iowa is therefore to surface so as
to attain some form of permanency.
This should first be done on the In
ter-country roads.
We may as welr be frank with our
selves about road improvement and
recognize that it is going to cost
money, and that the taxpayers will
have to pay it.
changed methods of transportation a
different type of road is required
now and for the future than in the
past. In the census referred to as
taken by the Highway Commission,
the average number of vehicles per
day was S39; Of these 292 were mo-
tor-driven, and AZ horse-drawn.
To take the next step in road bet
terment in Iowa, we are going to re-
quire more money than we have had
in the past. My judgment is that
the motor vehicle should very large
ly contribute this extra money. At
the present time, automobile owners
do not pay personal tax in the
State of Iowa. The state license
charged is much below the personal
tax that the same amount Invested
in property would pay. Since the
surfaced road is largely for the bene-
fit of the motor vehicle traveller,
suggest that you look here for one
OF your large sources Of income.
We already have federal aid. and
there is bill now pending in Con-
gress to increase this. Personally,
do not look with favor on federal
aid, but SO long as Congress votes
it, we should use our share.
Permit me to call your attention
also to the fact that the heavy truck
with the heavy load should pay a
tax proportionate to the amount OF
damage which it does to the public
highway, or to put it in another way,
the motor truck that goes on to
the public highway to haul freight
for fixed charge and as revenue
producer to the owner should pay a
motor license commensurate with
the wear which such ayehicle makes
on the public highway.
When the next step in road Inn
provement in Iowa is taken, which is
surfacing, the cost should be distrib-
uted as nearly as possible in proper
ton to the benefits derived. The
abuttlng and adjacent property is
directly benefited and should pay.
accordingly. The county or road dis
trict is benefited and should pay.
The proportion can be worked out on
some equitable basis and should be
left flexible enough to provide for
special cases.
The finances, then for this addi-
tional cost in the next step in road
building IN Iowa would CONF, at
least so per cent. from the increased
revenue from the motor vehicle fund,
and increased federal aid apportion-
ment. and the assessments against
abutting and adjacent property. The
balance of the sum, in the neighbor-
hood of 20 per cent. would be
financed from the general property
tax.
In this next step in road building,
adequate provision should be made
to permit those on whom the burden
of paying is to fall a voice in saying
whether or not the improvement is
to be made, and the kind and charac-
ter Of Improvement.
In this connection, let 1t be sug-
gested that provision also be made
by statute whereby given district
or political unit may anticipate the
funds designated above by providing
that the officers charged with road
construction be privileged to lay out
the road, specify kind and quality OF
road. let the contract, and then sub
NIT the project to the vote Of the
people Interested. II the people then
approve, the necessary securities
can be Issued, running over period
Of two, three or five years, as the
case may be, and thus the project
completed all at one time, with per-
haps great saving to the public.
It has been my thought in this
suggestion not to disturb the exist
ing highway law or its various agen-
cies, but rather to use them for the
purposes which they are already as
signed to fill, and by adding to their
powers and responsibilities the nee
essary law which will permit them,
in cooperation with those who carry
the extra burden, to take the next
step for more permanent road con-
struction within the state. This plan
leaves the initiative locally with
those who carry the burden and gives
them Q voice in determining the time
the project is to be started. and tho
amount to be involved.
In this biennial message, am
mindful that speak to coordinate
branch Of the state government. and
with that thought in mind have at.
tempted to share responsibility with
you. +.
Your task ia the more difficult one