The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1921-08-03
Argues For This
County S Help
State Engineer c. &. Cottrell Cites
Many Benefits That Would Obtain
With Highway Building

/. II. Kent has received the follow
ing letter from State Highway Engi-
neer c. G. Cottrell anent the propos-
al to complete the Lincoln Highway
from the Grimes ranch to Sand
Springs. Aid is requested from this
county to the amount of S25, 600
and Mr.. Cottrell's letter makes plain
the benefits to be derived The coUn-
ty commissioners will act on the pro-
posal at the meeting to be held on
Friday of this week.
The writer has just had a con-
ference with Mr. w p Harrington
relative to what information should
be gathered for the use of yourself
and other taxpayers of Churchill
county who are in favor of this pro-
position. Mr.. Harrington will there
fore write you today in detail just
what the increase in taxation would
be in your county should the bonds
be issued In the amount of $4,000;
also the relative burden to be borne
by the classified taxpayers of the
county in the redemption of the
bonds. This, l am sure, will be
rather startling information when
you realize that public utilities will
pay almost so per cent of this re-
demption.
From the standpoint of the
State Highway Department there are
probably many arguments that can
be presented in favor of going ahead
with the work. but we are going TO
take the position that we do not de-
sire to force work on county and
vii simply state the facts regarding
the financial transactions of the de-
partment in your county
"A review of our accounts indi-
Gates that the net state expenditure
in Churchill eouny-by this | mean
the expenditures made on the part of
the state from state sources-from
1917 to June 30th, 1921 Is S64.-
S1433. In addition we have ex-
pended in your county government
funds TO the total of Ss5,197.32.
and Lincoln Highway funds TO the
total of $26,3S0.00. The amount
that was put up by Churchill county
in cooperating on this expenditure
you can readily determine from the
county auditors books. Referring
over TO the income side OF the ae-
count | find that the total income
from Churchill couny to the state
highway fund from 1917 to and in
Guiding June goth. 1920 is $33,-
911.06, which means that the state
has voluntarily contributed TO work
in the county S30,9O3.27 in excess of
the states income from Churchill
county. Remember this is also with
out taking consideration OF the con
struction of the Lahontan plant
which is located In your county and
large part of the construction ard
operation costs have been expended
In your community Tile above fig
ures are sufficient argument for The
position we have taken that II will
be impossible for the state 10 bear
a pro rata OF cost on the contem-
plated work In excess of the amounts
outlined at our meeting on the 23rd.
"As was previously stated TO the
board of county commissioners,
Churchill county has the most COM
pick road problem of any county IA
the state. ] believe the total mile
age of the state highway system in
Churchill county is somewhat IA ex-
cess of 200 miles or We might say
almost 10 per cent of total mileage
of the state system; whereas, the
valuation of Churchill county pro-
perty only equals about Al per cent
of the state total. Therefore, how
does Churchill county expect TO i'm
prove its roads except through out
side assistance. l am sure that the
Lincoln Highway Association fer ex-
ample Will not feel oyerkindly DIS
posed towards a county which makes
n affnFt ~ ffa ~ -. t4aI i'm
prove its own roads but Is inclined TO
sit back and wait for something
favorable to happen You Yourself,
as one of the largest taxpayers Of the
county, can realize Just what this
attitude-should il become general
would mean In the way of further
work in your county. In the case
under discussion we are making a
direct offer 10 the county of s63.-
10000 In consideration of their put
ting up $25,000.00 and I cannot con
ceiye of a better business proposition
for the county TO accept, especially
so In view of the fact that they have
already had heir fun pro rata and
more of the states expenditures.
"Some discussion has reached us
to the effect that should the matter
of issuance of these bonds be put
off until the passage of the Phipps
Bill their issuance would not be
necessary. To us this appears to be
rather poor logic for the reason that
In the event the Phipps Bill does
pass there is still a huge mileage of
roads in Churchill county that need
to be improved on which the grad
nated scale of federal aid can prob
ably be better applied, Furthermore
we have an investment Of over S70,-
10000 represented in the fills across
the Fallon Sink which should be con-
served and il can be only conserved
through the placing of the surfacing
as planned,