The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-03-02

merits estimated valuation Of $780,
600 900 il would be 4 per cent There
are a great many danger spots con-
nected with the bonding proposition
that seem 20 be holding the center Of
the stage throughout the country at
the present time History is repeat
ing itself. During the s0's, when rail-
roads were first being built, the States
Of the great Middle West bonded for
railroads and canals until they had
created an intolerpble burden that
threatened bankruptcy or rcpudiation
They were compelled to change their
Constitutions and shut the door
against issuing bonds for internal inn
provements. There are constitutional
provisions today in many States, re-
quiring constitutional amendments to
allow even bonding for highways.
vermont's traditions are against
bonding and the established practice
Of over a century should not be violat
ed unless under extreme necessity
which does not exist thus far, at least
in Vermont's program Of highway inn
proyement. The question then natur-
ally suggests itself-If the State does
not bond how can we build roads Of
the character desired?
Suggestions
First-Change vermont's policy OF
taxation from that Of local assessors
to State commission. Raise the
assessed valuation TO approximately
its true value. This will accord with
the action Of at least p States-fve OF
whom have made this change within
the past two years.
Second-Create at the next session
Of the Legislature an executive bud
get in order that the unwarranted and
gross extravaganza that was manifest
in the last Legislature can be checked
and held in restraint-thus putting
Vermont in line with the national gov
erment and those progressive States
that have established the efficacy Of an
executive budget.
Third-Change the highway law so
as TO eliminate the local option feature
and centralize the building and main
tanning Of trunk lines by the State.
Secure the best business man that IL
obtainable in the State for highway
commissioner. California. when II
started on its great program for build
ing its State highways, went to Massa-
chusetts for its first highway commits
sioner Insist that building roads is an
engineers problem and that Vermont
roads. should be built according TO the
most approved scientific engineering
methods.
Fourth-The treasurer's report for
the fiscal year 1921 gave the automo-
bile license money as 100000. Prob
ably next year il will be 100000.
Five hundred thousand dollars OF TIA
license money should be used for build
ing highways instead Of being diverted
to current highway maintenance such
as it has been in the past. There
would be 100000 from the United
States government for two years and
$4OO, 900 Of State money. Raise 10c
on the dollar of the grand list, or one
tenth Of one per cent on the assessed
valuation which would give at least
$500, 900 per annum, IL property IS
assessed at approximately its true
value. This tax would not be burden
some and would compare favorably
with the tax burden Of other States
for highways, and would build AZ miles
Of hard surface roads a year at $780,
600 a mile. As there are approxim-
ately 500 miles Of primary roads ten
years would build our most important
highways with hard surface construc-
ton, leaving 100000 per annum of
the automobile money for other pur-
poses and would not disturb the five
per cent tax or the 100000 that the
State raises for distribution to towns
for other road work.