The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-05-06

These are some Of the high points
resented by Thomas Fl. Macdonald.
hief OF the Bureau OF Public Roads.
Department of Agriculture. in an In
Ssrview on highway development
THE equipment Of this continent
WI J modern roads has been the most
q Azing provision Of a public utility
that any community ever accom-
plished IN similar period" said Mr..
Macdonald "Historians say the
Holman Empire was held together by
Ies highway system, radiating from
RtT b to the Provinces. But America
haY converted a continent into g
mel bborhcod within few years.
his mplishment really repre-
se1s the inauguration of a new sys-
!. teKi OF taxation; system Of licenses
land excuses levied against particular
privileges or classes OF property, the
proceeds being dedicated to highway
development.
For 1926 state taxes on gasoline
keggFegated $14S.OO0, GOO Add to that
a26s. 100000 for automobile registra-
lion and licenses; $150,9OO,00O as
Improperly taxes on the 100000 auto
mobiles: s143, 43O,7O9 as the Federal
excise tax on automobiles, parts and
accessories for 1925; $5O.OO0.OOO to
REPRESENT wheelage taxes, special
taxea on gasoline or cars, and fines
collected from motor drivers. The
kotal reaches approximately s74s,-
pa0,TOs.
/ Nearly ef,ioNcoo,oco Yearly Tolls
/ "Rut these figures do not include
! income and corporation taxes derived
sm the motor car business. Nor do
Icy include state, local. production.
importation or income taxes of the
&btroleum industry. Yet that indus
8y has q capitalization of about
I'D 200, 100000, A modest estimate for
&ese. added to the preceding figures.
makes a total Of $1,O94. 930,70 which
Ills considerably more than the entire
amount spent on country roads.
You observe that have not in
cluded the governments expenditures
Of nearly 9l0e,000.0O0 in Federal aid
to road building. In the eight years
from 1918 to 1925 Inclusive, the Gov
ernment has contributed $500, 1000
| to help the states build roads. That
Is considerably less than half of what
the country spent on roads in either
1894 or 1926. Moreover, In the same
eight years, while the Government
was distributing that S460,00O,o00 to
the states, 1t collected 1878 100000 in
internal revenue taxes on motor cars,
parts and accessories. Other hum
dreds OF millions were collected in In
come, and corporation taxes from mo-
tor car manufacturers and dealers.
Thus 1t appears that Federal con-
trlbution to roads as compared to the
contribution Of people who make and
use the cars and the gasoline has
been decidedly modest.
eRut, while Federal contribution is
only about 10 per cent Of highway ex-
peRse, It has accomplished results al
together out Of proportion to its
amount. First, it was an incentive to
the States. Tho Government required
them to invest as much as 1t con-
! tributed. Then the Government takes
part In q general supervision OF con-
| structicn and share in determining
routes. So we have built roads on
better standards, and have got them
organized into truly national sys-
tenn instead Of forty-eight state ays-
4 TENS.
! UnIfyIng the Road System
Some day it will be realized that
this was the most valuable contribu-
/ ton. Driving from Boston to New
! York. man may pass through four
states. Every one might have
splendid highway system; but II these
did not articulate at the state lines
the trip would be almost impossible.
! Thanks to the systematization under
Federal influence, country roads are
as superior to state boundary lines as
are railroads.
~The Federal highway act Of 1921
required that complete Lation-reach-
Ing system OF roads be designated
within two. years, as the roads to
which Uncle Sam would give assist
anee. It was found that there ware
z,8es.0s1 miles Of highway ID the
country. or these per cent, or AGO.