The Bowbells tribune. [volume] (Bowbells, Ward Co., N.D.) 1899-1969, 1922-03-03
MIR. HUTCHINSON
TALKS GOOD ROADS
GOOD ROADS BOOSTER MEETS
WITH BUSINESS MEN I.
AT BOWBELLs


five millions of dollars have been
spent on road building in North
Dakota during the past decade un-
der the old county commissioner
road supervisor system, at the enor-
nous expense Of close to 100000
per mile Of passable road, was the
declaration of Thos. G. Hutchinson,
a representative of the North Da-
kota Good Roads Association, speak
ing to an assemblage of business
men and farmers at the CONNER
cial Hotel Tuesday evening.
The old way was a hit-or-miss
system which brought no results,
and everybody relaizes the futility
of it now. Often a county COM
missioner would start road lead
ing to his community, and some
times to his own dooryard, and be-
fore the road was completed, an
other commissioner would be elect
ed in his stead, who would abandon
that piece Of road and start one In
his own direction. Since the state
and federal governments have taken
road building in hand, we are be
ginning to realize the benefits of a
permanent system of roads de-
signed to bring the greatest good
to the greatest number Of people.
Mr.. Hutchinson stated that the
proposed amendment to the state
constitution would provide an an
nual income from motor vehicles,
to be used exclusively for road pur-
poses, of about one and quarter
millions; also that. by diverting the
one cent per gallon tax on gaso-
line from the various funds in
which the money is 'tlost'' now,
and into permanent road fund, no
additional taxation would be neces-
sary to carry out the proposed road
program.
Several of those who heard Mr.,
Hutchinson have taken exceptions
to his statements that by simple
diversion of the gasoline tax, there
would be no increase in taxation
1t was not, perhaps, Mr.. Hutchin
sons intention to leave that impress
sion, and it would be we'll for hin
OF go into this phase OF the subjec1
| more thoroughly in his talks.
Everybody is strong for the state
and federal aid road program, but
when somebody tells him that 1t
can be put over without Increased
taxation, he wants to know the full
particulars. II the gasoline tax is
diverted from the general fund Into
special road fund, something will
have to go into the general fund OF
the state to take its place-or else
economy will have to be practiced
| in the other departments.
The proposition might be stated
in this way: We need better roads
and want to take advantage to the
fullest extent of federal aid. Coco
roads have not as yet been given 8
high enough place in our economic
scheme. The people, and especial!
those belonging to tax-creating bod
les, must be induced to give more
/ attention to good roads. Gettint
the road system organized on
statewide basis along scientific lines
/ is of course a great economy TO be
4 gin with--but there must be othe'
economies, in other directions, t.
make the proposed road program
/ success. The people won't objec
to bit of new taxation for bettel
roads, providing first, they &c
enough money to pay the taxes, ant
j providing second, that they are no
taxed out Of existence for a bill
road program, as they are bein'
taxed in Minnesota