Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-10-12
STATEWIDE
BOND SOUGHT
BY ROAD Head
Judges, Commission
ers Hear Present
Financing Hampers
Highway System

DALLAS, Tex, Oct. l2.-lP)-The
state Of Texas is "hamstrung BY It's
plan Of financing its highway system
and is powerless to meet the clamor
for roads" Ross S. Sterling, chair
man Of the state highway commits
sion, told the State Association Of
County Judges and Commissioners in
convention here today.
Mr.. Sterling renewed his proposal
Tor a state bond issue of $500, 600, 900,
to be retired in thirty years with
proceeds of n gasoline tax Of less
thar three cents a gallon.
AT the crawling rate at which we
are providing highway revenues now
under the iliusory psy-as-you-go pol
ICY" he continued, Eve will be thirty
years or more getting our 10000 mile
state system paved.
To-day Texas has not a single
Translate highway linked up from
end TO end. We are compelled to do
our work only in counties that can
and will furnish their share Of the
cost. Our scheme of providing high
way funds is as obsolete as the horse
and buggy, whose passing made high
ways necessary
The commission chairman, who mas
heard delegations from virtually
every county in the state and person.
ally has visited all but ten of the
counties, stressed the idea that roads
should be built with bond proceeds
so those who pay for them can use
them while they pay.
He explained that his plan conteni-
plates a ten-year road-building pro-
gram ut the same cost which would
require thirty years time q the
present plan. The counties would be
reimbursed out of the $500, 000,OOO for
the money they put into state roads
about $50, OO0, 000-so they could use
il on lateral roads; and the state
would take over exclusive support OF
state roads. ooo
Under the bond plan, 100000
would be expended the first year OF
the ten-year program; ~Si0,OOO,OOO the
second year: $50, 000, 900 the third
and 1000, 900 each additional year.
None Of the bonds would bear inter
est until sold. The cost would be only
about SIC annually in gasoline taxes
Cor each automobile now IN leAAs'
minus the amount Of increasing num-
Der of cars would pay IN later years
Mr.. Sterling said.
about the nearest thing 10 an oo-
lection, / have heard against the pan
has been a rather vague emurre
that $500, 100000 is such q Iarg1
amount of money" he went on.
feel sure that an understanding =
the situation will relieve any mlsgis-
ings on that score. AS | nave salo'
strong ills must be met with strong
medicine.
"The state road bond issue works
fairly we'll from both ends. 1t afforos
this generation good roads and makes
the next generation, which Will ENJOY
them, pay its fair share OF the cost.
Settlers and homeseekers would oe
attracted to the state by good roaos.
A bond issue would make II posslole
10 build roads that will endure for q
half century, whereas the skimping
nolicy now in force compels the state,
in order TO give urgently NEEDED re-
lief. TO build many cheap roads that
will soon wear out and have to be re-
built.
"The counties cannot receive fair
consideration as long rs present
methods are in effect. The system
rust be changed. Not only should
their property be relieved Of levies
for state highways and their tax re-
sources left free for lateral road
building, but each and every county
should be rebated for expenditures
IL has made for the construction OF
state roads"
Mr.. Sterling estimated that Texas
could complete 10000 or ll,O0O miles
Of paved roads during the ten-year
neriod tentatively proposed for the
duration Of the $500. 900, 900 program.
This much work, added to the 5000
or 5000 miles already ~hard-surfaeec,
would constitute a network lncuolng
every important highway.
cat the same time" he said, "prac-
tically all the minor state a could
Be gravelled or topped, and the eoun-
ties could improve their lateral ROADS
with the slate refunds and with their
own tax resources"
Twenty-four other states have
voted statewide bond issues for high
WAYS and the commission chairman
said he has been informed that most
satisfactory results have been OBJ
tanned where strong state supervision
is maintained owe road programs.
"The states that have had time to
test the bond method are convinced
that IL is far better for the state
to ride while you pay" than to pay
as YOU go They are giving their
people roads TO enjoy while they are
alive.
aThe fallacy Of the latter policy is
exactly the same thing as the fall1cy
Of trying 10 build a house wholly
with the rent on the house. For the
gasoline tax at the bottom is nothing
more nor less than road rent. You
must finance your roads IL you expect
to build them in any reasonable time;
and when you do finance and build
them, the customers will I'm II We
Mad the $500. 100000 which / propose
that We provide. all we'll invested in
hard-surfsced roads today, a three
cent gasoline tax would pay SO mush
beyond u needs thai we would De