Arizona republican., 1920-06-04
Good Roads Legislation

Good Roads Legislation
 Two bills in of preparation for submission to the people next November designed to secure to Arizona modern highway legislation such as the experience progressive states has proved to be the most efficient. One of these measures, a bill creating state highway department is an adaptation of the Colorado highway law which has been in successful operation that state for cral years The chief of that law tained in the proposed Arizona and only such slight changes have been seemed advis able to meet varying conditions in this state
 The bill contempates department nearly free possible from political provides for and invites administration only under business methods. In tentative form it received the approval of the representatives from ten of the four teen counties Of the the recent meeting of the Arizona Good Roads association this etiy-an of them deeply interested the subject of good roads; who whether they happen be Democrats Republicans believe good roads to party beyond sectonalism.
 Another measure to be initiated a the same time, and also having the approval of the good roads sociation, proposes amendment the constitution the state by which the absurd limit the states bonded indebtedness shall be that the state be allowed to bond itself in amount exceeding per cent of it's assessed valuation for purposes of improvement, including the construction of good roads. That would provide sufficient to the construction it would be physically possible. a state system of permanent highways.
 The first named bill authorizes only the levy of two mills the dollar for a state road fund That would raise about s1,75OOOQ annually. It provides for other accretions the fund would make the receipts of the automobile license main tenance fund. From this it is estimated that at least $2500oo would now be derived a sum in- ereasing annually. from sources of the road fund provided for in the bill, there would be suf- feient amount for all purposes until the machinery the highway department should be assembled
 
 This bill is so comprehensive that even out line cannot be presented in this brief space. But in the course the campaign good roads will be laid before the people of Arizona
 This bill will insure fairness to all the counties assuring to each such measure of highway inn provement it's needs require. looking to mate establishment of complete state highway system with the benefits evenly distributed. believe that this measure, when presented the people will be given the approval of citizens generally
 There will be effort, suppose. the part of the large corporations to retain pres piece-neal. unco-ordinated system ing under which yet struggling. num- bers of such opponents in themselves negligible hey svil naturally defeat the bill by sowing the seeds discord by setting county ty; by drawing false distinction between the called mining counties where the rich and powerful situated the agricultural counties. They will try to keep road construction uneo-ordn- E ated and localized county for itself alone F There time when the burden of supporting | the schools was localized. There was a still f earlier time when publicly supported schools just has been time every from tieer country when there roads except such as the frontiersrnan between his house his reighbors. But experience taught that the localized & school system good just experience has taught that the localized road system is not sf good
 < Communities may properly be divided into units for various purposes; they always divided for political purposes II states the township is rhe unit; in states, the This is | q matter of convenience But in the matter of vancement and improvement the state itself should be the smallest should forward whole And, course. those who are best able te pay should pay the most
 Most of the people who live in the mining coun- ties have no more in the mines than tht people Who live in the agricultural counties. But
 speciy in these days trucks and automobiles have the same interest in good roads that the peop in he agricultural counties have; they too need to from one place to another; they need the trans ,,oraton of the products the soil Their interest are identical with the people of other part of the state who desire the advancement of tn .i whole state and it must advance a whole iit will lag.