The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-03-18
LEGISLATURE HITS
HIGHWAY BUILDING
Growth Of One Of States I'm
portant Assets Is
Crippled
by Professor L. D. Conkling)

to very seriously cripple the
growth Of one very important
asset OF the state, Good Roads.
Year round roads add materially
to the prosperity and comfort of
a Community. The rancher can
transport his produce to the
market when ne wishes; he is
not dependent upon weather con-
ditiOns.
There are two great systems of
transportation in the United States,
the railroads and the highways. Rail-
road transportation is wholly in pri-
vate ownership. The road bed, the
tracks, and the equipment 7 owned
by organizations Of private interests,
In highway transportation a different
cond ten exists. The equipment.
pass niger automobiles ard motor
trucks, the rolling stock, storage
horses, and al other accessories per-
tanning to the operation Of the roll
ing stock is owned by individuals or
private organizations. The road-bed
IS owned, constructed and maintained
by the public. When we buy a rail
road ticket or pay a railroad freight
bill We T helping the railroad pay
costs Of operation, maintenance, and
interest on investment.
Highway transportation presents
similar costs. The cost of the auto
mobile and the auto truck, and operat-
ing cost must be paid by some one.
The operator and owner pays for the
operating costs, and the public, which
includes the owners and others,
through the public Highway Commits
sions pays for the cost of construc-
ton and maintenance of the public
highways. One of the big problems
of present day finance is to apportiOn
highway costs between those who use
the highway and obtain a direct bene-
fit and those who obtain an indirect
benefit through the development of a
good highway system which means in
creased land and property value.
Money Formerly
From Taxes
A few years ago the money neces-
sary for highway construction was
raised by general property taxes on
~, or by direct assessments on adj
jacent or nearby property. The COM
ing of the motor vehicle and increased
use Of the highways by the owners
has furnished another source of in
come for highway purposes which
comes directly from the users of the
highways.
These mOtOr-vehicle revenues are
raised mainly by licensing the motor.
vehicle and the taxation of the gaso-
line used by them. This provides
revenue propCrtionate TO the use made
of the public highways. Through
these two forms of taxation the mo
t%or-vehicle pays directly a part OF
the highway construction and main.
tenance costs.
Money Should Come
From Auto Owners
Mr.. Henry R. Trumbower, Econo.
mist, United States Bureau of Public
Roads has an article on "Highway
Income from the Motor Vehicle" pub.
thshed in "Public Roads" for January
1925, from which the following data
is taken.
"The total highway expenditures il
the United States during 1921 amount
ed to over s947, 1000, OOO Of which mo
tor vehicles through license fees anC
gasoline taxes paid 1S.4 per cent.
In 1922 the motor vehicle paid IT.;
per cent.
In 1923 they paid 24.2 per cent.
During 1921 the motor vehicle Op
orator and owner paid 8.9 per cent; il
1922 they paid 23.7 per cent; and il
1928 they paid 1922 per cent of thu
costs for roads in Montana.
In 1921 the average motor vehicl
revenue per vehicle in Montana wa
$14.OO, the average license per vehicl
was SOTO ;the average gasoline ia,
per vehicle was $3.50 or % per cen
OF the motor vehicle revenue. i
1923 the average motor vehicle reve
nue. per vehicle had increased t
$f4S6; the average license fee pc
vehicle had decreased to 1888; an
the average gasoline tax per vehicl
had increased to $5.98 OF 40 per cen
lOf the motor vehicle revenue.
During 1928 the gross returns frOr
motor vehicle license fees and gsso
line taxes in the United States wa
1888 6190 Ola ~ wyhfch e1BQ COS R9a a