, 1925-01-11

ter. shipped in from Colorado. Ne
braska. or other points from out
side of the state? The solution of
this problem undoubtedly al be
had by cooperation, and co-opera-
ton only, and in order to further
this move, It seems to me this club
will do well to adopt a resolution.
after due consideration OF the sub
ject at hand, 10 take such action
as is necessary without further
delay.
Naturally my subject cannot be
thoroughly covered without calling
to your attention another Wyoming
product Of great Importance to u
development. namely. asphalt made
from Wyoming black oil. It is to
be regretted that 4 single foot of
concrete pavement has been laid In
u state within the past two years.
The best paving asphalt in the world
is manufactured at Casper, and
there is no doubt in my mind but
that any such asphalt pavement laid
thirty 10 forty years hence. Every.
one here is familiar with the six
inch cement pavement constructed
In 1919 on the Salt Creek road at a
cost OF about $500 0 and which
expense in less than Ave years was
augmented by an additional expendi.
ture of $l26. 900 to resurface with
asphalt this pavement which in a
very short time would have been
reduced to dust. This means a
maintenance cost OF 10 per cent in
less than Ave years. Compare this
please with asphalt pavement laid
In Hartford, Conn.,, In 1896, 2S years
ago. the maintenance of which has
averaged for the full 2s-year period
only ~ cents per yard. or less
than 1 per cent OF the original cost
for the fun period. Compare also
the cost of maintenance OF asphalt
pavement laid in Omaha. Neb., from
1889 to 1891, which has been resur-
faced once only in that period OF
SO to IS years. the cost of which was
probably a very small percentage OF
the original cost OF the pavement.
Records OF the state of Massachu-
sets show that the eos OF maipte-
nance OF asphalt paving since 1899
amounts to only liz cents per
square yard. and covers l.742 300
square yards of pavement. Other
cities such as New York, Chicago.
Philadelphia. Washington, Los An
geles. Portland. Ore, and in fact
practically every city In the United
States has laid asphalt pavement for
| periods ranging up to 40 years past.
When recommended by practically
all reputable city engineers. the type
of pavement certainly must haFe
some merits, and in view of the fact
that Wyoming is now producing
considerably more black oil than can
be used. and is capable OF increas'
ing this production several fold. l
can see no reason why any paving
program in our state should not
stipulate Wyoming asphalt. Any In
creased demand for our asphalt WI
naturally increase royalties paid tc
the government and to the state,
by reason OF the development of
latent black oil structures. This
added development would benefit
every taxpayer in our state. In
1923 the expense OF running our
state government was $4,000. 900. or
this noun $500. 900 was raised
by direct taxation, and the balance,
6 $500 900 was derived from what
oil. directly or Indirectly. The state
highway commission expended in
the year 1928 $4,000. 900, OF which
amount 500. 900 or ono thirtieth Of
the expenditures, was raised b.
direct taxation. The balance. s2,.
900 900 was derived from what-oil.
It Is entirely possible to increase
these oil royalties by the Increased
consumption Of oil. or by-products
such as asphalt. Such nm increase
would no doubt remove the necessity
OF increasing the gasoline tax from
one cent to three cents per gallon.
i cannot resist the temptation OF ex-i
pressing my ideas on this proposed
Increase in the gasoline tax. In
this period Of reconstruction and re-
adjustment OF conditions when every
business concern is reducing ex-
penses to the very utmost. is wiping
OF enormous lossen due to new
values OF stock inventories. and Is
already overburdened and seriously
hampered with taxes, is 1t good
business and sound economies TO in
crease any taxes at this time? The
state highway department Is to be
commended on the remarkable show.
ing 1t has made on our Wyoming
roads, but the question Is whether
II should DO content to carry on
during the period OF readjustment
on the Same basis as during 1928,
referred to heretofore. and continue
their economical course, or place
additional tax burdens upon every
one in Wyoming in order TO carry
out their road.making plans. 1t 10
my opinion that every department
of our state government should by
all means be conducted as eco
nomicslly as possible. and not ut
this time or until conditions have
become more normal. attempt to In
creas the already heavy burdens
we arc all carrying.
Another point Ia that II tho high
way department ia privileged to
saddle upon every taxpayer in the
state additional taxes to carry on
its road program, why should not
every other department of u
state have the same privilege? For
the sake OF argument let US sup
pose that they have the same privi-
lege, and that each of them would
endeavor to have some tax measure