Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-04-27
The Good Roads Bond Issue.

through their association are render
ing the state fine constructive serv-
ice by informing the people of the details
of the bill now pending in the Legislature
to amend the Constitution so as to provide
for a great bond issue to build highways.
Georgia's highway program consisted Of
two parts. The first part consisted of the
bill increasing the scale of motor vehicle
licenses and setting aside the proceeds for
highway construction, and the bill creating
a Highway Commission. This part was passed
by the Legislature in 1919. The High
way Commission has been hard at
work for several months. Composed OF
good men combining technical, business and
legal experience, it has mapped. out sys-
tenn of trunk highways linking together the
counties of the state. 1t is ready to proceed
on great scale when the second part of the
highway program goes through. The sec
ond part consists of the bill amending the
Constitution so as to provide for an issue OF
highway bonds to be retired with the pro-
ceeds of the motor vehicle licenses.
This second part of the Legislative program
was introduced at the session of 1919 and
progressed substantially toward PASSAGE
There being no haste about it, however, an
view of the fact that Constitutional amend
ments are not to be submitted to the people
until the general election of 1920, the Leg
islature allowed it 70 go over as unfinished
business, which allowed the people twelve
months to study and discuss it's provisions.
The highway commissioners through their
association have had Mr.. Frank Reynolds,
man we'll posted on all details Of the high
way program making speeches for several
months, explaining to the people exactly
what it means and the reasons why they
should support the Legislature in passing
the bill and should vote for it's ratification
when the referendum is taken.
The increased scale of motor vehicle
licenses will produce in 1920 a revenue Of
nearly $2,0O0,000. AS the number of motor
vehicles increases from year to year, the rev.
enue will increase. Motor vehicle owners are
willing to pay the increased license when
they know the money is going directly into
highway construction.
Which would be the better business pol
icy-to spend 100000 a year on highway
construction, thus progressing slowly to-
wards the ultimate goal of a statewide sys-
tenn of trunk roads connecting all county
seats; or to issue $40,000,000 to $4,000, 900
Of bonds, build the trunk line system in two
or three years, and use the motor vehicle
license money to pay the interest and sink
ing fund?
That is the sole question raised by the
pending Constitutional amendment. That the
people of the state will at once perceive the
advantages of the latter plan is reasonably
certain if they understand the facts. A big
bond issue will enable the State to construct
its highway system at once without delay,
and the present generation will get the ben
efits of it, while future income from motor
vehicle licenses will pay the interest and
sinking fund without a dollar of ad valorem
taxation Motor vehicle owners generally
speaking are bound to favor the bond issue
plan of immediate construction, as against
the other plan of year-by-year construction,
inasmuch as they will enjoy the pleasure and
profit of riding on the roads which they are
paying for.
Georgia is in fact as we'll as in name a
most wonderful empire. Her mountain re-
sources of forest, mine and water power;
her almost unlimited agricultural possibili-
ties; her splendid sea front furnished with
harbors inviting the development of great
ocean trade; her diversity of soil and climate;
her unmixed strain of Anglo-Saxon citizen
ship-what more could State or Nation
have to make it great?
When highway system is added to these
then will commence an era of DEVELOPMENT
the like of which no other State in the
Union has ever experienced. Already fourth
in agricultural output, Georgias produc
ton has only commenced. The time is not
distant when the value of the products of
her farms and orchards will far surpass in
value and variety the richest State on the
North American continent.
No other Investment will pay such divi-
dends as $5O,OOO,OOO invested in highways.
Increased land values alone will pay the
entire cost of the highway system in five
years. The Legislature ought to pass and
the people ought to ratify the Constitutional
amendment. 1t is a business proposition
which should not be rejected.