The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-08
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Continued from Page OnA)
way system which Kansas should
have. ta>
1--WE all appreciate the adverse con
ditions with which the farmers of
Kansas have had to contend during
the past two years. We cannot expect
from him the support which he would
doubtless, extend to an adequate state
highway system if it had not been for
his extensive recent losses" A95s
An Adequate Road System.
The plan which is favored by the.
Automobile Association of Kansas,
Biby pointed out, will give the state
real and adequate highway system,
without saddling a heavy burden of
taxation on the farmers, who pay, the
greatest part of the taxes of a state
in which the chief industry is agri-
culture. - -,o.-,, :,
Charts were displayed in the room
in which the meeting was held, which
were prepared in the office of the
state highway engineer, showing the
disposition of the taxes which are coll
lected from property owners of the
which are levied by the cities, the
counties. and the state itself. 49,
Another chart shows in graphic
form, the collection of taxes and auto
mobile license fees from the residents
OF the state, the amount of money
StructiOn and maintenance, of roads.
Declaring that automobile owners
are failing to receive full value from
license funds and from local road and
bridge taxes, M. W. Watson, state
highway engineer, urged centralized
control of road construction and main
tenance at the meeting today.
Watson advocated a constitutional
amendment to epermit exemption of
automobiles from the personal prop
erty tax, in lieu of which he would in
crease the license fee, using the money
to build roads. An adequate state
road system can be built in reason
able time he said, from automobile
license fees and federal aid. He IA
vored a tax on gasoline to be used in
road maintenance, SO that motorists
would pay for upkeep somewhat in
proportion to the benefit derived.
with 2S9,537 motor vehicles regis
tered in Kansas for the six months
period ending December 81, 1921
Watson said. sit is not unusual that
the owners of these vehicles who pay
the license fees and use our highways
should begin to ask what is being done
with the money he pays and what
benefit he is deriving from the ex-
penditure.'
Where Has 1t Conc?
In the last seven years, the state
highway engineer pointed out. more
than 10 million dollars has been
levied within the state for road pur-
poses. This money has come from the
following sources:
Township tax ...............$2 go 206-SSt
County tax ................ 35O22.711
f Poa ts4 fee. - $685.
Total ...................-..$ 70,029,545
This is doing very well for begin
ners in seven years" Watson COM
/ mented. what has been accom-
plished with this money? We have
quite a lot of permanent bridges, some
hills have been reduced, and in gen
eraI there has been a marked i'm
prov~-nent in road work in the last
/ four years. but are you satisfied with
the results from this expenditure?
Where will we eventually find our
selves under this plan?'
Referring to the so-ca1led state aid
law enacted by the last legislature,
providing for the use of automobile
| license funds in the construction Of
permanent roads, Watson said:
You may ask why the state high
way commission has not built roads
under this state aid law. The answer
| is that the entire initiation of projects
| is vested in your local county boards.
1921, ZOO. 600 in Rolling Stock
Watson estimated that IN air forms
of road transportation-the rolling
stock for the public highways-Kan-
sans have the following investments:
WAGONS '; -; ,,;s.; '2oS,5511
Autos and trucks.......... 200.OeO.000
I Motor cycles. 3S9,5S2
H Haysas and nnes 1900
Total ......--............sA 50, $40
Compared with this he estimated
that the total valuation of all rail-
road properties in Kansas for 1920
was $3S4,45I 594, and that of this to-
tai valuation of railroad properly not
more than $50,0eo,g00 represented