Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1920-08-26
FRANK w. AGAIN
His Views on State Highways

Every one in the State of Vermont is in favor of
good roads, but hardly two agree as to the best
way to get them. Merely talking about good roads
won't help things much. Who's got real plan?
who's prepared to give new deal" in building
good roads? Who's running for governor without
consulting the political road machine in the State of
Vermont?
Not Mr.. Emery, whose district has the best roads
IN the state because the present road commissioner
lives there
Not MIR. Babbtt who merely proposes to extend
the present system and reappont the present high
way commissioner;
Not Mr.. HARNESS.. whose campaign centers
about establishing industries for Vermont and
letting the roads take care of themselves.
In his various speeches, Mr.. Agan has pointed
out that bad roads out standard cars per cent
faster than good roads, that the difference in the
of gasoline is about 20 per cent to nothing about
tires
Figuring 10000 Vermont cars at $1,000 each,
this yearly loss runs into something like $2,000,000
year. Worth saving isn't it?
SUFFRAGE and DRAINAGE. '''' ''' WV '''N''
Nothing new about that, you say? True enough,
France has had roads of the gassaving qp-keep-sav
ing type for year. French good roads helped to win
the war. Mr. Agan favors the French plan.
%&a ~
What's the French plan? Merely deep bitches
and side drainage, with as good surface as your
money can buy, water proofed if possible That plans
good for stone roads, gravel roads and dirt roads.
It's good for selected highways, county highways,
cross-state highways and town highways. It tells
the whole story of bad roads vs. good roads and how
to get them.
Costs money you say? True again but we've
got the money to spend and get as much more if
need it and can show something in the way of inn
provement.
If motor-car owners could save any part of that
$4,000, O00wouldnt they be willing to pay more tax:
Wouldn't you be glad to have more money spent for
town roads and cross roads?
AS matter of fact, we're not using all the money
we raise now, due to various There is more
money in the state treasury right than the high
way department knows what to do with.
Ordinary folks paying all the taxes they can
stand at present; what as our tax system is not the
lack Of something to tax but he unequal way that
taxes assessed.
man buys $4,000 house and is assessed
say $4,000 At $3.50 the gr and list the tax his
house would be $50. A man buys $4,000 car and
he pays probably $40 horse power tax for the first
year, with sliding scale after that Anything right
about that?
Once The light Car, which costs less
than $1,000, pays horse power tax of $40. The big
heavy, expensive car, which costs than FIVE
times much and Injuries the highway ten times as
much pays perhaps $40. Is that fair distribution
Of the burden?
Mr.. Agan a heavy car and he says No!
So here's program: Better roads by better
methods; more tax, if necessary by readusting The
burden. No bonded debt No heavier burden
the ordinary taxpayers!
Has any one else better plan?
Has any other candidate any definite plan?
If you want change, vote for Agan. If you
want the sort of roads you've got now, vote for
of his opponents.
THE AGAIN CLUB of LUDLOW
Allen D. Ball. Secretary