The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1926-05-06

These are some Of the high points
presented by Thomas H. Macdonald.
Chief OF the Bureau OF Public Roads,
Department of Agriculture, in an in
terview on highway development
1.-THE equipment of this continent
with modern roads has been the most
amazing provision of public utility
that any community ever accom-
plished in similar period" said Mr..
Macdonald. Historians say the
Roman Empire was held together by
Its highway system, radiating from
Rome to the Provinces. But America
has converted a continent into a
neighborhood within a few years.
This plishment really repre-
sents the inauguration Of new sys-
tenn of taxation; system OF licenses
and excuses levied against particular
privileges or classes of property, the
proceeds being dedicated to highway
development.
For 1925 state taxes on gasoline
aggregated s143.000,000. Add to that
S2e3, $780, 900 for automobile registra
ton and licenses: S150.000,000 as
property taxes on the 20,000,000 auto
mobiles; S143,430.709 as the Federal
excise tax on automobiles, parts and
accessories for 1925; s50,000,600 to
represent wheelage taxes. special
taxes on gasoline or cars, and fines
collected from motor drivers The
total reaches approximately s749,-
930,70s
Nearly $4,000, 900 Yearly Tolls
But these figures do not include
income and corporation taxes derived
from the motor car business. Nor do
they include state, local, production,
corporation or income taxes of the
petroleum industry. Yet that indus
try has a capitalization of about
100000 600 A modest estimate for
these, added to the preceding figures,
makes a total of s1,O94 ,93O,7O9, which
is considerably more than the entire
amount spent on country roads.
"You observe that I have not in
Guided the governments expenditures
of nearly s1OO,00O,00O in Federal aid
to road building. In the eight years
from 1918 to 1925 inclusive, the Gov
eminent has contributed s460,000,00
to help the states build roads. That
IS considerably less than half of what
the country spent on roads In either
1924 or 1926 Moreover, in the same
eight years, while the Government
was distributing that s460,000000 to
the states, it collected $873,O00,000 in
internal revenue taxes on motor cars
parts and accessories. Other hun
dreds of millions were collected in in
come and corporation taxes from mo
tor car manufacturers and dealers
Thus 1t appears that Federal con
tribution to roads as compared to the
contribution of people who make and
use the cars and the gasoline has
been decidedly modest.
But while Federal contribution Is
only about 10 per cent Of highway ex
pense, it has accom- plished results al
together out of proportion to tts
amount. First, it was an incentive tx
the States. The Government required
them to invest as much as 1t con
tributed. Then the Government takel
part in a general supervision OF con
struction and q share In determining
routes. SO we have built roads OF
better standards, and have got then
organized into a truly national sys
tenn instead of forty-eight state sys
tens.
Unifying the Road System
Some day 1t will be realized tina
this was the most valuable contribu
ton Driving from Boston to NeN
York, a man may pass through fou
states. Every one might have
splendid highway system; but II thes
did not articulate at the state line
the trip would be almost impossible
Thanks to the systematization unde
Federal influence, country roads ar
as superior to state boundary lines a
are railroads.
"The Federal highway act OF 1872
REQUIRED that a complete rationreacl
ing system OF roads be designate
within two years, as the roads
| which Uncle Sam would give assis
ance. 1t was found that there wei
2,sss,Oe1 miles OF highway In tn