The Winslow mail., 1921-02-25

Most of the people of our state
want to reduce taxes. 1t is a most
laulable undertaking. Some of these
editorial shops that are turning out
arguments against the state appro-
priating approximately million
dollars for the purpose of road con-
struction, however, would not prac-
tice their own theories. Not one
of these print shops that are putting
out such argument would turn job
work or advertising from their door
and cut down expenses by firing the
printers, the preSSmen and the devil.
AS long as there was a demand for
printing, just so long would they
continue to do printing. NO one
denies there is lemand for roads
and if this demand is not met by the
great State of Arizona in conjunction
with the work of road building that
other states are doing. Arizona will
become desolate waste as far as
motor traffic is concerned and the
sight seer, the health searcher and
the home seeker will drive around
Arizona. Of course, the surest way
to stop taxes is to stop values. Quit
living and go back to the cliff dwell
ers and then you will have no taxes.
1t is good argument to reduce taxes.
1t is economy to do so. 1t should be
done, but shall the State Of Arizona
refuse to pay it's sheepherders and
let it's f1ocks roam at will to be de-
pleted by wolves, coyotes and lions?
The state might save the price OF
the sheepherder but it will lose the
flock. This is not economy. The
argument that this State should not
and cannot raise the money by taxa
tion for the purpose Of assisting the
counties of the state and loining
with the federal government in the
building of roads, is as fallaciOus as
that merchan. in practice Of econo-
my should close his store to save
the wages Of the clerks when the
public is clamoring at his door for
his goods. If Arizona don't keep step
with other states in the union in
the building of roads, all her natural
resources will avail her nothing. The
National Old Trails road across the
northern portion Of the state has
carried more than sixty per cent OF
the total transcontinental motor traf-
fic to the Pacific Coast. If state and
federal aid are not given to the
Southern Highway across the state,
then motor traffic will go elsewhere.
Traffic goes where it is served. If
other states and the federal govern
ment make better roads, there will
the traffic go. Can Arizona afford to
permit such condition?
Tax money that goes to build roads
brings to the state money of the
federal government. Both the state
and federal appropriations are ex-
pended in the state. Labor is en-
nloyed : and materials purchased
Every person, the merchant, the
banker, the property owner, are alike
recipients of the benefits. The way
to reduce taxes is to increase pro-
perty and it's value. If there is any
one thing in the State Of Arizona
that will tend to increase property
values, it is good roads. Even the
reclamation projects Of the state
would be of little value without roads.
1t is hardly believable that the
people of Arizona desire to cut their
own throat just to save a little tax.
What other states are doing is what
the State of Arizona should do. The
great national highways that lead
through the state must be kept
building if the increasing motor traf-
fic Of the future is expected to pass
into and through the state. 1t Is ad-
mitted that times are bad That tax
money is hard to raise, but when 1t
is an investment that brings profit
to the state, it Is in part, at least, a
solution Of hardtimes conditions. Il
means better times and the ability of
the property owner to pay his taxes
To fail to build these roads and keep
them in condition means continued
inability of the property owner to
meet his tax payments II Arizona
fails to do her part in the great road
building projects Of the nation, it
will be long time before she can
remedy the mistake. Arizona cannot
afford to make this serious error.
All the people cannot live on the
boulevards until the boulevards are
built for them. Some roads must be
built first and those are the ones
that carry the greatest traffic Com
munities situated away from the
great highways are reluctant to par
ticipate in the expense of their con-
entirely. They should remember,
however, that if they expect local
roads in the future, it will be because
they have helped in the construction
Of the more important roads Of the
highway systems. The roads which
will reach all communities are only
assured by the building first of the
main arteries which carry the great
er traffic. Road building is in its
infancy and the construction of the
main roads means the eventual build
ing of the laterals and all the con-
Meeting links which will afford to
all communities and the travelling
public to motor where they will no
matter what their objective point
may be. Can the State of Arizona
permit a state of condition to arise
wherein this important traffic will
be impaired and decreased through
a failure to keep in line with the
other states of the Union?