The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-10-31
S3OO,OOO,OOO ROAD
PROJECT PLANNED
Massachusetts Commissions
err Outlines Big Con-
structiOn Scheme.
WANT MORE REVENUE
FROM AUTOMOBILISTS
Now Pay Less Than Half of Road Costs
Thinks Better Roads Would Save
AutomObiIists S6,OO0,OOO A Year On
Tires and $4,000, 900 on Gasoline.

Thinks Better Roads Would Save
AutOmObiiistS S6,OOO,OOO A Year On
Tires and S1O,OOO,OOO on Gasoline.
BOSTON, Oct. 31-A $300,000000
road development program, extending over
period of 20 years, is to be recon-
mended by the department of public
works to the incoming legislature. Sim
pie arithmetic indicates that this means an
expenditure of S15,000,000 a year. This
was made known last week, when the de
partment of public works, through its
motor vehicle registry, began sending out
to owners of motor vehicles blanks on
which they may apply for the re-registra-
ton of their machines.
Naturally, this vast sum of money can
not be expended unless it is first raised,
and the motorist, of course, is wondering
if he is included in the departments plan
fer raising it. This is the answer: He
is. And what is more to the point, Com
missioner John n. Cole presents with his
announcement an argument which he
hopes will appeal to automobile owners
and cause them to consent to an increase
in the fees exacted of them.
Mr. Coles Hint to Motorists.
Mr. Cole has caused to be mailed to
each owner, in connection with his ap-
plication blank for re-registration, a four
page pamphlet in which he says, in part
Massachusetts has $4,000 miles of
/ highway divided into main through
routes. city, town and village streets, and
suburban roads.
| Massachusetts has taken over and
I
of this road. The state has helped cities
and towns in cooperative work, in which,
| in some cases. the counties have borne
part, in the construction of approximately
800 miles more.
| In 20 years the state has expended
| for construction of state highways and
| local roads S23,000,00O, and for mainte-
| nance S15.O00,000. a total of S3S,O00,OO0
in the 20-year period.
ITO continue in the development of
! additional mileage necessary to give to
Massachusetts Il completed system of
/ through routes of a width and type of
construction TO meet present require
fments. the state must Immediately under
take projects that will cover not less than
300 miles of new work, calling for an eX-
penditure of not less than Sl2.0O0,OOO.
While the state expenditures out of
motor vehicles fees in 1921 will amount
/ to about S5000.00O. the total expenditure
j
to exceed $25,00O,OO0 In other words,
direct taxation provided highway i'm
pr0vements and maintenance to the eX-
/ tent of nearly five times the amount re-
ceiyed by the state from motor vehicle
! fees.
Must Widen 1.OOO Miles of Highway.
a thousand miles of road on through
routes in Massachusetts should be wild
ened within the next five years. to pro-
Md Of 70 10
safe the operation of passenger cars.
This widening will cost not less than
$10,O0OOO0 in addition to the regular
maintenance costs.
To construct parallel routes in con-
nection with not less than, 200 miles of
main highway will cost the state in the
next 10 years if safe traffic is to be pro-
vided, an additional amount of not less
than S10.000,000.
To eliminate dangerous curves on i'm
proved highways in Massachusetts. in
Guiding land damages and all other ex-
penses, viii add to the state burden in
the next 10 years not less than SJ.000,000
The automobile truck is now an essen
tial part of the transportation system of
Massachusetts. Its development must not
be retarded, but must be definitely and
properly aided and controlled.
4 "A proper and normal load on the
heavy duty truck serving the business life
, mand upon the commonwealth for large
expenditures in connection not only with
highways but many bridges now totally
inadequate. Not less than $4,000, 00C
viii be required in the next 10 years for
|. this one item made necessary by this
> modern system Of transportation.
Not less than 1000 miles of road oil
a type that was ample for all require
e ments when constructed, but rapidly be
coming incapable of carrying the heavy
> truck load, must be reconstructed at an
: expense of $40,O0O,00O. just as soon a.
the money can be found available for the
work
Every condition suggested is incident
to the development of the motor vehicl,
tOn the Massachusetts highways. The ag
: gregate sum that viii be necessary t
take care of the situation in the mex
. 20-year period is conservatively estimated
/, to be not less than S15.000,000 per year
What share of this money is tn,
> imOtor vehicle owner to pay, not to the
: advantage of the commonwealth as
whole, but to protect his own interest il
, Massachusetts highways and discharge
= his own responsibility for the need?
: 'On the basis of the fees now prevail
ing, he paid in 1921 less than one-half O
-