Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-10-01

the Carlyon road bill, as set forth
/ in the following letter to the Rosalia
/ Citizen-Journal, carry weight and
are worthy of the careful considera-
1 ton of the voters;
Articles supporting the Carlyon
/ bin have appeared in your publica-
/ tion. This is q most important meas
We, and should be carefully consid-
cred by voters. ] wish to note the
/ following objections to the bill:
list The present excessive cost OF
| road construction A comparison OF
scales of coutrcts awarded in 1914
and 1920 In Whitman county shows
am increase in cost of construction
from 100 to 200 per cent
ANTE war price levels may not be
reached soon again but the tendency
is downward and deferred construc-
ton will undoubtedly cost less
'2nd, Present excessive rates Of
interest on bonds. It is not good bust
ness to make long time loans at pres
ent extreme rates of interest.
"3rd. Execution Of the Calyon plan
will work injury to general industry.
Existing supplies of labor and ma
terial are all badly needed for farm
ing, numbering, and other enterprises.
Absorption of capital by bonds will
increase the tension in general fl
nance.
IF construction is deferred it will
serve later to give labor needed en-
plOymenC, reduce Overstocks Of ma
terial. and absorb capital not needed
in times of depression at rates more
favorable
"4th, Cost of paving the proposed
1900 miles at present cost of con-
struction will probably reach 500
100000. If completed will re-
quire proceeds of the 10000. 100000
bond issue, and a like vast sum in
addition. from other sources. Since
the capacity of people to pay is limit
ed, and likely to be reduced in the
near future, this program will stifle
other road construction in the state
for the next 90 years. If not com
pleted, who will be favored of the
favored ones?
18th. The measure eXpends too
much in promoting unproductive
travel. The value OF tourist travel
to this state has been exaggerated
through does not pay for the wear
of the road in passing. The example
of California is not analogous. Our
climate does not tempt the tourist
to linger and spend.
The proposed paving will tend to
promote pleasure travel between
cities with but negligible service to
productive industry
I
some of this money to assist the
farmer in building needed macadam
roads on which to travel to and from
his home town, over which he can
haul his produce, send his children
to school give him some social OPP
portunitieS. and make his family
more satisfied with country life con-
ditions.
Which is 1T wiser to encourage,
pleasure and tourist travel, or the
movement back to the farm?
9Th. Favoritism- There should
be no such free gift to the abutting
property, the value of which will be
greatly increased, at the expense Of
the general public.
9TH. 1t may prove highly detri-
mental to road construction for the
next two years, if bonds can not be
sold on a five per cent basis as re-
quired by law. On passage of the
law its provisions tie up a large pro-
portion of the auto license money
If the plans fail because of inability
to sell the bonds. which now seems
probable, the money will be unavail-
able for construction for several
years.