Evening star., 1925-03-12
FUNDS FOR ROADS
BATTLING PROBLEM
More Highways for Autos
Make Enormous Demands
for Extra Building.
BY j. C. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
NEW YORK, March 12-American
cities and States are being forced to
utilize every possible means to ac-
commodate the increase in traffic. In
the effort to relieve congestion, more
streets, alleys and highways are be-
ing paved than ever before in his
tory Street systems which were
adequate a few years ago cannot
accommodate efficiently the travel de-
mands now made on them. Cities
and counties have found that much
of this congestion can be relieved by
construction of through streets and
highways which will distribute motor
vehicle movement and stimulate de-
velopment of outlying sections and
suburbs.
Getting Funds Is Problem.
The question in many localities is
the method of getting the money to
pay for such improvements Inves-
tors are perfectly willing to subscribe
to bond issues authorized to raise
funds for such purposes, but many
municipalities and, especially the
more progressive ones, have already
borrowed by such means up to the
limit allowed by law. The new prop
erty valuations in many sections,
which would allow an additional
power TO incur Indebtedness, have not
as yet been made in many sectional
The programs are prepared and
traffic demands are such that to avoid
serious congestion, they must be car
ried out. Money is available, but
legal restrictions are holding up the
actual work. An example of what is
facing scores of communities Is to be
found today in the situation of
Rochester, n. Y.
Nnpic;noy VaxIoS
Rochester citizens in the midst OF
the annual struggles with income
tax returns have just been jolted with
the pleasing information that in or
der to smooth the city's harrassing
financial situation municipal income
tax may be levied. At least that is
one suggestion made by the commit
tee of the New York Legislature,
which has been studying Rochester's
finances. The city already has an
impressive bonded debt and still is
far from making both ends meet.
The situation is due largely to the
progressive improvements which have
been made by the municipality
There is immediate need of $1,000, 900
new revenue which the constitu-
tional limitation on the tax rate
makes impossible. Therefore, the
possibility of a municipal income tax
burden on income.
New Taxes Suggested.
Alternatives are the raising of the
constitutional tax limit; raising as
sessments of property already ap-
preaching full value; levying a busI-
ness rentals tax and revenue derived
from payment for special services the
city offers its residents. The citizens
NJ noh
express a preference, but there is an
unmistaka able trend toward a change
in the form of city government, to-
ward the city manager plan. Scores
of other cities are facing similar.
problems. They are perfectly solvent
but they have to have money for
streets and roads.
Gasoline Helps Virginia,
A gasoline tax yielded Virginia
over 100000 in 1924 which is the
sole revenue of the State for road
building purposes That State is ap-
parently satisfied with its pay as
you go" road program and now has
372 miles of concrete highway, 1.l33
miles of bituminous macadam and
706 miles of gravel roads. Kansas is
putting into effect a similar tax and
other States have already done So
Le1Sl sedi hoS &AHSeleS leo the CIT. .
les in the construction of concrete
street paving with 81 miles Atlanta
was second and Seattle third. IL
linois led the States with Pennsyl-
vania second and New York third.
Many cities already have placed huge
street paving contracts for 1925.
Chicago leads in this respect with
10.4 miles of concrete street and !
mile of alley paving. Los Angeles
has placed contracts for almost an
equal amour. Hibbing, Minnesota,
has placed single contract for the
paving of over five miles of streets