Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-12-20
TAXES and MORE TAXES
Governor Cooper Has Ambitious Plan
for Road Building.
SPEND $S4,OOO,OOO IN SIX YEARS

Proposition to Build Four Thousand
Miles of Soft Surface Roads and Six
Hundred Miles of Hard Surface
Roads Without Increasing Property
Tax.
Columbia State, Sunday.
Without increasing the present prop
erty tax one cent the state Of South
Carolina may spend approximately
s34, ,OOO 900 on a six year road improve
ment programme that would result in
a state system of 1000 miles of improv-
ed roads, 5000 miles Of which would be
hard surfaced, according to plan an
nounced yesterday by Governor Coop
er, following 4 consultation with the
state highway department.
Governor Cooper gave out the plan
himself and is very much in hopes that
the general assembly will seriously
consider the proposed six year pro-
grammc Under the plan announced
by the governor the state could COM
plete a system of improved highways,
hard surfaced and sand clay, top soiI
and gravel, that would be credit TO
the state. Under the proposed pro-
gramme each county would not only
retain its own money but get back
more than 1t puts in for the construc-
ton and maintenance OF its state high
ways and bridges
Briefly the new programme contem-
plates six methods Of getting the 1884,
600, 900 as follows: Federal aid for six
years to be s5,6C0,OOO; an increase In
the automobile license fees so as to
bring in s1,3OO,OOO year, or S7SOO,OOO
in six years; approximately $6,2OO,OOO
from the two mill property tax now ef-
fcctive; approximately s3,4O0,o0O from
a gasoline tax imposed for six years at
one cent a gallon; state bond issue OF
s10,00O,000.
Large Sum for Roads.
Under the programme 1000 miles OF
soft surfaced road would be construct
ed to cost around slO,OO0,OOo, including
minor bridges and culverts; 400 miles
Of hard surfaced roads, including grad
ing. minor bridges and culN erts, ETC., to-
cost around $lO,OO0,O0O; all the state
highway bridges not yet provided for
would be built at approximately $5,-
500, 900 for the six year period; pro-
vide n sufficient maintenance fund Of
about $5,5OO,O00 for the six year period;
provide around $1.50O,O0o to maintain
the state highway department for six
years and interest and sinking funds Of
s1,SO0,0O0 for the bonds.
In this S34OO0OO0 programme the
amounts TO be received out Of the $780,
10000 road construction fund alone
would be as follows for the following
five counties: Charleston, s1,1S0,00O;
Greenvllle, $1,14O,OOO; Richland and
Spartanburg, s1,1OO,OOO each; Ander-
son, 100000.
Some of the major bridge projects
provided for under the proposed pro-
gramme include four over the Great
Pee Dee, four over Lynche,s river, two
over the Santee, one over the Wateree,
one over the Catawba one over the
Congaree, two over the Broad, two over
the Pacolet, two over the Tiger, two
over the Enoree. six over the Saluda,
four over the Edisto, one over the
Ashepoo, one over the Combahee and
two over the Savannah.
During the next few years South
Carolina will be confronted with an
unemployment situation, incident to
the necessity Of reestab ishing our ag-
riculturc," said Governor Cooper in an
nouncing the new six year proposed
programme. 1T is important that en-
ployment be found for our surplus la
Dor during this period, because, while
we shall have reorganized our agricul-
ture, we will have n shortage instead Of
q surplus Of labor. Unless something is
done 10 give the unemployed labor dur
ing the transition period there will be
an inevitable emigration" the governor
declared.
South Carolina needs to continue
the building of public highways Of a
permanent character. After consulting
with the state highway department, the
following is submitted as a tentative
programme, in the hope that all Of our
people, especially members OF the gen.
eral assembly, will give the subject Sc
rious consideration and arrive at a
wise conclusion"
The proposed programme was an
nounced as follows:
Proposed Programme.
Without increasing the present prop
evty tax one cent the state of South