Imperial Valley press., 1921-10-19
MOTOR TRUCK
NOT T0T|NG
FAIR On
COSTS
Taxpayers Are Keeping Up
Magnificent System of
Highways for Their Use
Without an Equitable Re-
turn, ,,.. s....,r.

When California started her policy
of highway construction she was build
ing for the future and preparing for
progress, but in the most optimistic
imagination there was no thought OF
the automobile, auto stage and alto
truck development that has since
taken place.
The means for caring for increased
traffic have increased that traffic be-
yond the means of caring for it. In
providing for progress we have -.
multiplied it's rates that we must n'S
make fresh provisions unless we stand
still. We built roads to attract traf-
fic and we have attracted more traffic
than our roads can carry.
1t is a matter for congratulation
rather than for complaint. Progress
can never come too RAPIDLY for the
people Of California. Always we s
be prepared to NEE it, but in respect
of the progress of transportation on
the State highways we must make i'm
mediae preparation for more roads,
wider roads, and roads maintained in
a better state Of repair.
The all-important problem is one of
finances, and in view of the heavy
bonded Indebtedness incurred and 70
be incurred in connection with high-
way construction we must look for ad-
ditiOnal sources of revenue.
Primarily. the State highways were
built for the convenience of the people
for all the people, and not for the
special convenience of limited NUM-
Der making special use of them.
The people Of California have benz.
fitted to such an extent that from
1913 to 1920, or the period Of the new
highway policy, the number Of auto
mobiles have increased from 96,399 to
535 900 in 1920. This progress has IN
creased beyond the width capacity Of
certain roads between particular ncints
but in no instance does it appear to
have been responsible for the aetring
up of the highways. Damag of this
kind has been done by the hard tired.
overloaded and rapid-moving auto
trucks and by speeding auto stages,
loaded beyond their passenger limit.
During the same period as that
given for automobiles the auto trucks
have increased from 5.299 to $4,000,
but that proportionately greater in
crease is only part of the story. The
more important part will be found in
the engineering reports issued by the
two automobile associations of the
state.
During the past four months, 1000
trucks have been weighed; 256 of these
were found to be overloaded, in some
instances as much as 100 per cent
Five hundred trucks weighed on public
scales gave loadings on each rear
wheel angling from 4,275 pounds for
one-ton trucks to 1920 pounds for
five-ton trucks. Truck operators OBJ
serve little relation between the man
ufacturer's rating and the load carried.
AS one expressed it, "They would haul
any load they could start.
The law provides maximum weight
per inch of tire in contact with the
road. but on the five hundred trucks
examined the maximum was exceeded
AS the report states: at is apparent
that if truck operators are permitted
use the highways without police su-
pervision a few unreasoLabl e truck
operators will wreck any road system
that may be built" We have laws
against overlooking, but they are not
enforced. -..
In concluding this feature the engi'
neering report comes direct TO the
point by saying: Examination of
motor tax enactments in other states
leads to the conclusion that the pres
ent California taxes are extremely
moderate and not in accord with more
equitable tendencies"
They are manifestly inequitable in
respect of the taxes levied upon auto
trucks and auto stages. Owners of
such vehicles are running them for
profit, and they should be made to pay
in proportion to the extra use they