The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-08-20
INTEREST IN REFERENDUM l..

INTEREST IN REFERENDtM |.
SEATTLE. Aug. 19-Sentiment
| throughout this state is rapidly crys-
talizing in favor of Referendum Bill
No. /, which will be voted on at the
general election November 2. accord
| ing to reports received here by the
| Automobile Club of Western Wash
| ington and the Washington State
! Good Roads Association. 1t is de
clared that as the merits of the meas
ure, commonly known as the Carlyon
| plan, are becoming known to the vot-
ers, opposition that existed few
months ago is disappearing.
Voters. it is said, are becoming
convinced that the present "pay-as-
you go" policy of constructing and
paving highways is not efficient an
that the plan provided by Referen-
dunn No. /, is the most logical meth
cd of obtaining state highway sys
| tenn that will compare favorably with
that of other states noted for thei
| fine roads.
1t is pointed out by the Automobile
Club, that this state has been operat-
ing on the "pay- you-go" policy for
the last fifteen years and up to til.
time has only a little more than 100
miles of state highways paved Sc
great is the drain on funds for main
| tanning the roads that money for pay
| ing cannot be raised. At present the
state is paying more than $1,000, 00A
year just to keep up and repair its
roads. 1t is contended by advocate
of Referendum No. that if this
| measure is passed the maintenance
cost will be reduced by at least 5000
600 year
What little money remains after
paying these enormous maintenance
charges is used largely for grading
and preliminary construction of dirt
and gravel roads, which under present
traffic conditions are quickly pounl-
ed to pieces and cut into ruts.
Referendum No. provides 70,
paving $40 miles of state highways
| Immediately, so that not only the
road maintenance cost may be re-
duced to a minimum bu so this state
may have comprehensive system OF
paved roads available for use now
while the cost will be borne partly by
those who use the roads in future
years. The cost will be spread owe,
a period of 20 years and will be borne
by the automobile license fees, wit
out taxing real estate or personal
property.
A statewide paving campaign, it is
contended, requires the investment of
| large sums of money at one time
This is not compatible with the "pay-
as yougo" policy. The burden of
taxation would be too great. The
financing of hard surfaced roads so
the present generation will be al
lowed to profit by the early constluc
ton is one of the big problems to be
solved by this state. Real property
in both city and county already is
taxed to the limit for highway pur-
poses.
City levies for public and county
highways amount to 6.5 mills annual
! ly. County levies for state and coun-
ty roads amount to l4.5 mills annu-
ally. These levics were fixed some
time ago and were not for paving
but for the extending of state roads
and for local improvements to lateral
roads
Referendum No. /, by means of
bonds issued against the automobile
license fees is calculated to give the
present generation paved roads and
permit those in Is or 20 years hence
who will enjoy them to help pay tho
cost