Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-19
Saturday, March 10, 1921.
PAY YOUR SCOT.

untaxed, anything pertaining TO its
use becomes OF quite general inter-
est: indeed, the way matters are now
being handled. It is pretty certain
also to be Of interest to the next
generation that may have to pay In
part for the roads we are now wear
ing out.
Few will question that there rests
on the present generation an obliga-
ton to transmit our inheritances to
the succeeding generation in as good
condition as We received them, and in
this conclusion the owners of autos
are OF course involved.
But someone says they are taxed
for this, that and something else,
already. True. True. also. that they
do most of the wearing out of the
roads, that it takes money to build
roads, money to renew roads, money
to repair roads. money to see that the
expend the money for the doing of it.
Manifestly those agencies which wear
out the highways should bear their
proportionate share of the wear and
tear.
Again someone interrupts. that
there are autos, and autos; some
highpowcred, racing over the face of
the earth and sucking up the dust
and spreading it to the four winds OF
heaven and leaving the skeleton Of
the road behind to disintegrate. Then
there are trucks heavily loaded and
run in all weathers pounding the
roads to pieces. II one declares it is
cheaper to ship by truck than by
rail tell him he doesn't know how
much it costs because it hasn't yet
been determined what the ultimate
expense Of maintaining the roads will
be-
Meanwhile one very essential fea-
ture Of the tremendous problem
there is none bigger before the coun-
try--is how to raise the money that
is needed. Various expedients are
suggested. One of them is tax on
gasoline, as one source Of revenue.
Considering how generally cars are
owned and how largely they con-
tribute to the wearing out of the
roads, such a tax would not seem un-
just, unless II would cost too much
in the collecting. That is a very i'm
portant element entering into the
consideration OF all those Questions.
Any method requiring an army of in
spectors and officials should be
thrown out the window as not worth
considering.
A bill has been introduced into the
legislature authorizing the Governor
and Council to issue during 1921 and
1922 three million dollars of State
highway and bridge bonds. A bill
has also been introduced providing
that all funds for the construction of
bridges under the general bridge act
shall be taken from bond ISSUE 1t is
estimated that 100000 of these bonds
may be needed to pay the States
share of the cost of new bridge con-
struction between now and June 80,
1928, the end of the fiscal period for
which appropriations will be made by
this legislature. This would leave
$4,000 available for the construc-
ton of federal aid and State high
ways. :
At the present time State highway
construction work coming over from
1920 uncompleted covers twenty eight
jobs. 1t is estimated that the COM
pletion of these jobs will call for
s1,524,000, and that against these Jobs
when completed may be drawn fed
eral aid amounting to $923,000. On
March Is the unexpended balance of
state highway loan money available
Tor this work was just short of $780,
900, so that If no new bonds are is
sued it will mean no new State high.
way construction during 1921 or 1922.
merely completion of jobs put under
construction during 1920.
Naturally most owners of cars
will object to having their burdens
increased. At least they will on the
first impulse. though on sober second
thought few Of them would say they
proposed to dance and objected to
paying the fiddler. Apparently
something remains to be done In Sc
curing correct appraisal of what
the exact obligation is, just what each
should pay This. however. affords
no easy evasion Of the obligation. |
Motorists should pay for the cars
they use and should pay for 50 much |
of the roads as they wear out. So
much Of highway improvement as
can be shown to be an investment the
next generation nay profit from,
>-,,;%., ~ x1og1 for INV h0ndc |