The Natchitoches enterprise., 1921-05-05
Now For Highways

One Of the most vital subjects before
the constitutional convention is the de-
velopment of permanent good roads
policy.
We know the story of agricultural
depression, of the slackenlng in the
mill towns. of tight money, and of
high taxes.
We know that there is good deal
of unemployment and that there may
be more.
We know how people feel about the
need for economy.
1t is in just such periods as this that
cities and states should undertake
works of public improvement.
In the first place, with the wages of
common labor falling toward old nor
mails, and with labor plentiful, building
can be carried through at lower cost
than in boom times This means that
The stage or city receives more for
money expended than in good times.
In the next place, men forced into
idieness through no fault of their own
are really entitled to jobs of some kind.
A great nation like our own should not
be numbering its idle workers by the
millions.
In the next place, the only corpora
tlons in the world today that can get
relatively cheap money ara the cities
and states, and the other political SUBJ
divisions. Their credit is good and
their securities are tax-exempt. So
these securities are in demand at par
or at premium. This is one side of the
case.
Another is that really scientifically
planned state highway system will
prove of untold value to Louisiana.
We need great durable highways.
There is no reason to believe that the
legislature, which follows the meeting
of the constitutional convention, will
be better able to pass on this question
as matter of state police the cOnven-
ton itself.
If the state builds permanent high
ways it must spend money today in
providing something useful for the
people for the time to come.
Since 1914 Louisiana has been held
up because of war on its major high
way development. If the convention
authorizes tax for highway system
almost ten years will have passed since
1914 before the highways will begin to
emerge.
Meantime, life is passing. If we are
not going to begin now, wnen are we
going to begin?
DO most of us want these roads?
Any money tor highway system
sounds like imported money. But it is
all money spent here at home. Every
dollar invested will bring more happi-
ness and more prosperity to all of the
people of Louisiana.
A highway system for the state
would cost as mush as moderate sized
battleship. 1t would cost az much as
several hundred miles OF standard
gauge railroads. Itwould cost as much
as all of the assessed values IN one of
the small parishes of Louisiana. 1t can
be paid for by small tax on the prop.
erty of the state added to the income
which the state would secure from au-
tomobile owners.
With the system completed. we may
reasonably expect the people of Louisi-
ana to quadruple their present use of
trucks and pleasure cars.
The state can afford to make the in
vestment. 1t cannot afford not to make
it. For every progressive common
wealth in America that lacks good
roads already is building them.
We would suggest to any doubling
member of the convention that he in
quire Of the authorities of any state in
the Union that built really good roads
if their people would sell out their in
vestment and 20 back to mud, if they
were offered five times the price they
have paid.
With railroad rates increasing the
people want cheap transportation.
You could double the railroad invest
ment in Louisiana and you would not
afford the people % much additional
transportation Of value - would b |