The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-01-06
COMBINED RESOURCES
TO RAISE REVENUE
Under Plans Announced by Govern
or After Consultation With
Highway Department

The State.
Without increasing the present
property tax one cent the state of
South Carolina may spend approx
mately S34,OOO,OO0 on six year
road improvement program that
would result in a state system OF
1000 miles of improved roads, 600
miles of which would be hard sur
faced, according to plan announced
yesterday by Governor Cooper fol
lowing a 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 six year tax
program. Under the plan announc-
ed by the governor the state could
complete system of improved
highways, hard surfaced and sand
clay, top soil and gravel, that
would be credit to the state. Under
the proposed program each county
would not only retain its own mon
ey but get back more than it puts
in for the construction and mainte-
nance of its state highways and
bridges.
Briefly the new program contem-
plates six methods Of getting the
s34,OO0,0OO as follows: federal aid
for six years to be $6,600,00O; an
increase in the automobile license
fees so as to bring in $4,000 a
year or S7,SOO,000 in six years; ap-
prox;mately s6,2O0,000 from the
two mill property tax now effective;
approximately s3,400,000 from a
gasoline tax imposed for six years
at one cent a gallon; state bond is
sue of S10,00O,000.
Large Sum for Roads
Under the program 1000 miles Of
soft surfaced roads would be con-
structed to cost around S10,000,O00,
including minor bridges and cul-
verts; 400 miles of hard surfaced
roads, including grading, minor
bridges and culverts, ETC., to cost
around $1O,OOO,OOO; all the state
highway bridges not yet provided for
would be built at approximately S5,-
100000; provide sufficient mainte-
nance fund of about S5,500,000 for
the six year period; provide around
S1,2O0,000 to maintain the state
highway department for six years
and interest and sinking funds of
S1,800,000 for the bonds.
In this SS4,00O,0o0 program the
amounts to be received out Of the
S2O,O0O,000 road construction fund
alone would be as follows for the
following five counties: Charleston,
S1,1S0,000; Greenville, $1,14O,O00;
Richland and Spartanburg, S1,1OO,-
900 each; Anderson, 100000.
Some of the major bridge projects
provided for under the proposed
program include four over the Great
Pee Dee, four over Lynch'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 Hacolet, tv|o
over the Tiger, two over the Enoree,
six over the Saluda, four over the
Edisto, one over the Ashepoo, one
over the Con1bahee and two over the
Savannah.
During the next few years South
Carolina will be confronted with an
unemployment situation, incident to
the necessity of reestaolishing our
agriculture" said Governor Cooper
in announcing the six year proposed
program. 'It is important that en-
ployment be found for our surplus
labor during this period, because
while we shall have reorganized our
agriculture, we will have a shortage
instead of surplus of labor. I'm
less something is done to give the
unemployed labor during the tran
sition period there will be an inev-
itaible emigration" the governor
declared.
South Carolina needs TO con-
tinue the building of public high
ways of permanent character. At
ter consulting with the state high
way department, the following is
submitted as a tentative program,
in the hope that all of our people,
especially members of the general
assembly, will give the subject seri-
Gus consideration and arrive at a
wise conclusiOn.'' -