The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-01-12


economy. The present procedure o,
planning as we 60, with no knowledge
as to what the appropriations of sue
ceeding years will provide for, moi
| only brings about waste on account
of incomplete studies, but is also
wasteful on account of the fact that
it is impossible to coordinate the
order and progress OF road and bridge
construction among the counties, sc
as to employ the States sources OF
material supplies to the best advan'
tage.
The attached tabulations show how
the revenue could be- raised, what
each county's share in the proposed
road construction fund would be, and
a list of important bridges that might
be constructed with the bridge fund
Without increasing the present
property tax one cent the State OF
South Carolina may spend approx
mately s34,OO0,000 and complete with
in six years system of improved
State highways comprising about d.
900 miM, more than 600 miles OF
which would be hard surfaced, and
the rest surfaced with sand clay, top
soil or gravel; and under this plan
each county will not only retain its
own money, but get beck more than
it puts in for the construction and
maintenance of its State highways
and bridges.
The money can be raised as follows:
1. Federal aid from the national
government at present rate of about
$1,100,O0O per year for six years,
s6,6O0,00O.
2. The automobile license receipts
If the license fee is increased to cor
respond with the average in the Unit
ed States, which, for example, would
change the fee for a Ford car from
Sc per year to So per year and for a
Cadillac from SIG per year to SIS
per year, this source would yield on
an average approximately 81 10000
per year or a total for six years OF
81 100000.
8. The two-mill property tax now
effective would yield an average Of
slightly more than $1,000,000 per
year, or about $780,, 900 for the six
years.
4. A tax of one cent per gallon
on motor vehicle fuel would be i'm
posed without appreciable burden and
would yield en- average of between
$500,OOO and 100000 per year. or
say $3,4OO,O0O for the six year period.
S. A State bond issue of only $10,-
100000 would bring the total fund
up to $34,000,000, and this issue
could be so arranged that part Of
the revenues above suggested would
take care Of it during and after the
six-year period.
This s34,O06,0OO fund would be suf-
ficient to carry out the following
described program ri road improve
ment:
1. Construct 1000 miles of soft
surface roads, including minor bridges
and culvets, at $4,000 per mile, s10,-
100000.
2. Construct 400 miles of hard
surface roads, including grading and
the minor bridges and culverts, at
s25, 900 per mile, $1o,0O0,O00.
3. Construct all of the important
bridges on the State highway system
not already provided for at a cost
of about $5,500,000.
a. Provide annually sufficient
amount to maintain all State roads
previously constructed varying from
100000 per year at present to about
81 100000 per year when the State
system is complete, CT about $780,
900 for the six years.
5. Maintain the State highway de-
partment at cost f about 100000
per year, or S1,2OO,OCO for the six
years.
6. Provide interest and sinking
fund of s1,SO0,000 for bonds. Inter-
est and sinking fund, after the six
year period could be provided from
the same revenues, with substantial
balance for matching subsequent
federal aid and continuing the con-
struction of hard surface roads.
The State highway system as at
present planned contains about g.
500 miles of road, Of which more
than 1000 miles will be completed
or provided for by the end of 1921
including more than 200 miles Of
hard surface. The 2,4OO miles pro-
vided in the above program would
therefore complete the system and
enable the addition of some 500 or