Arizona republican., 1922-03-29
Save the Roads

Senate Bill 81 introduced yesterday relating 10
tax on motor vehicles operated for profit on the
public highways should be given the earliest atten-
tion and become law. This proposed legislation
is especially within the call Of the governor The
highways of the state practically without regua-
tory protection against those who would abuse them
and those who would properly make use OF them and
enjoy them also without protection against the
reckless users OF them Boards OF supervisors can
adopt speed regulations but that is about as far as
the authorities go under the existing regulation
We have many millions Of dollars now invested in
highways. The heaviest and most frequent traffic
gravitates to them If this traffic remains unrs-
stricted the most durable OF roads win long
stand up under it,
Therefore it is proposed by another bill to
strict loads and for the safety of the travelling pub
lie the length and width Of the vehicles allowed on
the roads Vehicles with heavy loads usually
with the maximum Of rapidity are more wear
ing upon the highways than other vehicles, and
that the operators vehicles should not only
restricted to speed and weight Of loads but should
be made to contribute just amount to the main
tenance Of the highways. The good roads move
ment never contemplated that the development
should result in greater advantage to one class
or citizens than to another.
In the past these stage and freight lines on the
highways have never astonished us by the modera-
tion Of their charges. Indeed on the lines, which
are not restricted by railroad competition and under
monopoly Of the use Of the state highways which
has been permitted to grow UP, in many cases the
charges have been outrageously high. An instance Of
this brought out last in the investiga-
ton OF line in Mohave county where it was shown
that workingmen and even officials OF a mining com
pany walked s5 miles as protest against the rates
charged by the stage company.
The railroads themselves in certain cases have
suffered from what must be regarded as unfair
petition Now The Republican has had frequent
.ason complain Of the methods OF the railways,
heir extraordinary charges, and their seeming dis
regard Of the public, but even the railroads have
lights which have been impaired by the freight truck
lines
The railroads are perhaps the heaviest contribu-
tors the cost OF highway construction; they most
Cor the roads which become free rights Of way for
passenger and truck lines which only enjoy the
free use of highways which cost them nothing but
pay nothing toward the maintenance Of the roads to
whose wear they contribute the most.
Within the last week we have printed an an
nouncement Of the suspension Of the railway service
between Phoenix and the Buckeye country because
OF the diversion of the passenger traffic to the stages
and the freight the trucks. That is the kind OF
competition for short haul traffic against which
railroads cannot stand. 1t is not competition Of
rates but Of circumstances in which the railroad
must be the loser and the general public, not the
gamer. with the roads driven of the short haul
field and the stage and truck lines left to their
devices, the public becomes the sufferer.
Next the need of regulating and taxing those
who use the roads for profit is the necessity
strict regulation OF the weights OF truck loads
Most roads now in existence however recently they
were constructed have been built according to speci
ficatons which have not been changed to their
carrying power since the time when only light trucks
were in use During the last two three years, the
attention of road builders has been called to the
vastly increasing weight Of trucks. At first it
thought that the specifications would have to be
changed to meet the heavier loads. In some places
that has been tried it has been agreed that the
cost of such roads is prohibive that states have
been compelled to adopt strict regulatory and restric
tive measures to save the roads.