The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-05-07

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
"The equipment Of this continent
with modern roads has been the most
amazing provision Of a public utility
that any community ever accom-
plished in a similar period" said Mr.
Macdonald. Historians say the
| Roman Empire was held together by
It's highway system, radiating from
Rome to the Provinces. But America
has converted a continent into .
neighborhOOd within a few years.
4 This accomplishment really repre-
Sents the inauguration OF a new sys-
ten Of taxation; a 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, OOO, 900. Add to that
&26S, 500, 900 for automobile registra-
ton and licenses; $3.50, 900, 900 as
property taxes on the 10000, 900 auto
mobiles; $14S, 4SO, 7OS as the Federal
excise tax on automobiles, parts and
accessories for 1925; $50, 100000 to
represent wheelage taxes, special
taxes on gasoline or cars, and fines
collected from motor drivers. The
total reaches approximately $749,-
E sSO,7Os.
Nearly 01,1oO,OOO,OOO Yearly Tolls
But these figures do not include
income and corporation taxes derived
2 from the motor car business. Nor dc
they include state, local, production
corporation or income taxes Of the
= petroleum industry. Yet that indus
/ try has a capitalization Of about
1900, 600, 900. A modest estimate FOL
these, added to the preceding figures
d makes a total Of 81, $50, 709, which
T ls considerably more than the entire
q amount spent on country roads.
"You observe that I have not in
sluded the governments expenditure
Of nearly 800, 900, 900 in Federal ali
to road building. In the eight year
n from 1918 to 1925 inclusive, the Cox
- eminent has contributed $3.50, 900, 90
:. 70 help the states build roads. Tha
= Is considerably less than half Of Whs
y the country spent on roads in eithe
- 1924 or 1925. Moreover, in the sam
- eight years, while the GovernmeE
" vas distributing that $4s0,00O, 900 I
II the states, it collected 1878, 600, 1000 !
internal revenue taxes on motor car
parts and accessories. Other hu,
Areds Of millions were collected In 1
come and corporation taxes from m
AT tor car manufacturers and dealer
N Thus it appears that Federal co
tribution to roads as compared to Il
ed contribution Of people who make Al
lr- use the cars and the gasoline h
re been decidedly modest.
ies "But. while Federal contribution
NJ only about 10 per cent Of highway
m pense, It has accomplished results
together out Of proportion to
amount. First, It was an incentive
the States. Tho Government requir
s them to invest as much - it CT
trfbuted. Then the Government tax
-e part In a general supervision Of G,
WI s~truction and q share In determini
routes. So we have built roads
my better standards, and have got th,
ely organized into q truly national 8
ose TEN instead Of ~forty-eight state s
III TENS.
Unlfying the Road System
ent some day It will be realized 4
enC this was the most valuable c0ntri
ton. Driving from Boston to N
TIC York, a man may pass through &
arr states. Every one might have
.enC splendid highway system; but IL th
did not a~rticulate at the state IL
one the trip would be almost impossi'
red Thanks to the Decentralization un
IS Federal influence, country roads
.ges as superior to state boundary lines
/ to are railroads.
any "The Federal highway act Of
required that a complete r~atiOn-re'
ing system Of roads be designs
su- within two years. as the roads
.on0 which Uncle Sam would give AL
ance. Il was found that there v
900 QRegOg1 miles nf highway in