Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1920-04-22
WHAT RATIFICATION OF THE
PROPOSED GOOD ROADS
AMENDMENT WILL
MEAN

!
ton writes us letter of explanation
on the Good Roads proposition for
West Virginia and for the benefit of
all those interested the letter is pub
ished:
Dear Sir:-Primarily, the pro-
posed amendment to the State Con-
s.itution which provides for a sys-
tenn of state highways connecting all
county seats is not bond issue. 1t
is virtually an authority to be vest
, ed in the legislature by the voters
at the polls in November, empower
/ ing the legislature to enact laws for
the purpose of constructing a sys-
tenn of State roads.
"rhe text of the amendment, first
of all, enables the state to construct
and maintain system of highways.
Second it authorizes the legisla-
I ture to provide means for this sys-
! tenn, which may be by the sale of
automobile licenses, by taxation or
by the issuing of bonds in amount
net to exceed $4,000, 100000 outstand-
ing at any one time.
perhaps this amendment could
stand on its own feet and meet the
approval of the voters this fall. None
can say whether this is true or not,
but a large group of good roads adj
vocates throughout the state, realiz-
ing the urgent necessity of such an
amendment, did not feel that any
chances should be taken.
"They, therefore, met June 18th
and 10Th, 1919, at Parkersburg where
an organization known as the West
Virginia Good Roads declarations was
formed.
Platform Outlines Policies
This Federation adopted a plat
form with which it planned to go
before the people urging the ratifi-
cation of the good roads amendment.
''The amendment itself does not
outline set policy which the legis-
lature is to follow in the enactment
Of road laws in case it is ratified by
the voters.
"The Federation provides this pol
icy with it's platform. It is reason
able to assume that the Legislature viii
follow this policy if the voters ratify
the amendment on the platform urged
by the Federation.
''In case the legislature deems it
advisable to issue bonds for the CON
struction of these state roads, the
Federation proposes plan of indi-
rect taxation for retiring these bonds.
This is known as "the Illinois Plan"
1t is based on increased automobile
license. Experience in Illinois has
proven that tie plan can be worked
successfully The license tax was
revised in Illinois on the basis of the
1917 registration. This revision was
designed to create a sufficient sinking
fund to retire $50 600, 100000 bond
issue in 80 years.
Number of Cars Increased
CONSTRUCTION of roads on such
scale as that permitted by the $780,
100000 bond issue made the num-
Der of new automobiles bought by
citizens of the state increase on
scale little dreamed Of by those who
were supporting the plan. This in
crease of cars has been so great that
it is now estimated the state will
have 20 per cent more money than
necessary when the final block of the
bonds are retired.
"a system of state roads such as
proposed in West Virginia, increased
the number of cars owned by citizens
of Iowa to such an extent that there
are now said to be one car for every
six people in the State. Five years
ago there was one car for every
thirty people.
ION January LIST, 1920, there were
little more than $4,000 care regis
tSiSu III VcSt virginia. IL Was u
ficially announced by the State Road
Commission on March 10Th, 1920 that
more than $4,000 were registered.
"This increase was not due to the
building of hard roads. 1t was in
spite Of the lack of good roads.
There was one dar for every thirty
people in West Virginia on January
LIST, 1920 Is it not reasonable to as
sumo that history will repeat itself
in West Virginia, (like Iowa, for in
stance) if comprehensive state
hi shway system is built connecting
all county seats? The incentive to
own an automobile would become
fixed
Equitable Distribution
But the Federation does not con-
fine itself to the plan of indirect tax
alton to retire any bond issue the
legislature may approve. It's plat