The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-09-17
IS, 100000 WILL BE AVAILABLE
FOR COUNTY ROAD WORK

SEATTLE, September 9.-More
than $S,000,000 annually will be made
available for county road work in this
state if Referendum No. / is passed
by the voters at the November cleo
ton, according to the Automobile
Club of Western Washington.
1t has been charged by opponents
of this measure that if it passes,
funds will be taken for paving state
| highways that could be used for coun-
ty road work. This, according to the
automobile club, is a fallacy.
The club points out that Referen-
dun No. will release the perma-
nent highway fund of $t,597,72O an
nually, which is now used largely in
some counties for paving; will re-
lease the road and bridge fund of 49,
362, 991 SO and will release the coun-
| ty road district fund of S3,S56, 429. rs
| annually or a total of $S.S17.142. is
annually for the construction of the
county lateral road SYSTEM to con-
meet with the state highway system
Because of the fact that Referendum
No. l will give the counties this large
sum every year, without deductions
for the building and maintenance of
state roads, the club believes there is
no ground for the argument that this
measure will not benefit every county
in the state and virtually every see
| ton of the various counties whether
the proposed state highway system
rasses all property in the counties Or
rot.
At present valuations and assess
nents during the proposed six-year
construction period on the state high
way system there will be available
from the public highway fund for
grading state highways s6,3S7,361
| From the present levies for county
highways there will be available
during this siX-year period more
than $50 ,902,s5 for construction and
| maintenance of county roads and
bridges.
IF the voters of the state approve
| Referendum No. providing for
| bonding the automobile license fees.
| there will be available for paving h.
Sic miles of state highways $4,000
| 600 and if the government continues
the federal aid post road appropria-
| finn ot tho 70
be available SS,664,00O which may be
applied for paving and grading on
primary state highways.
The highways proposed in this act
are to be paved and maintained by
the state under supervision Of the
state highway board without levying
one cent of tax on the real property
of the state. The motor vehicle own
crs will pay the cost through the an
nual license fees. which will be ample
to cover the interest and the install
ments on the bonds each year.
In order to distribute equally the
cost of this state highway system tho
state highway board is authorized to
reimburse counties in which highways
OF durable type have been con-
structed that can be utilized as a part
o. this system where the funds for
the payment of such pavement arc
derived from county bonds or coun-
| ty road and bridge funds, the i'm
bursements to be in six annual pay
| ments and in no case to be more than
the actual cost of construction.
Since the passage of this act by
the legislature, many counties have
issued bonds and are now building,
under state supervision, paved high
ways, in order to reduce their heavy
annual maintenance expense and to
have the use of paved roads.
In the face of present conditions,
| can this state afford to follow any
longer the old and expensive policy Of
spending much for maintenance and
little for construction asks the auto
club. It is now costing Washington
81 100000 year for road mainten-
ance.