The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-12-04
AUTO OWNERS
FACE DOUBLE
BOOST IN COST
Increase of License Fees,
Gas Tax Hike Will Be
Recommended.
PAVING FUNDS NEEDED
Good Roads Association to
Lead Move Before
Legislature.

increase OF CeIlG III Jne BdSO-
line tax and approximately SO in
auto license fees will be asked Of
the legislature which convenes Jan.
10, to finance the paving of Indi-
anas 1871 miles of state, county,
and township highways within five
years.
This proposal for raising the
$6,O00000 or 100000 additional
revenue required annually to speed
highway construction for five-year
completion will be sponsored by
the Indiana Good Roads Associa-
ton, John G. Brown, president, an
nounced today. He believes the plan
will have an excellent chance Of
enactment.
Brown mailed to members of tie
coming general assembly highway
facts and figures compiled by the
Good Roads Association, together
with a letter requesting legislators
to study the material to be in posi-
ton to judge highway bills certain
to come before them.
Would Raise Millions
The Indiana Good Roads associa-
ton, incorporated year ago, repre-
sentS individuals and civic clubs
throughout the state interested In
development of the states highways
as an increasingly important factor
in transportation.
"a 1-cent increase in the gasoline
tax" Brown said, making 1t 4
cents instead of 3 would add
approximately $3,500,000 annually to
the highway departments revenues
for road building, and the SO in
crease on license fees would add
about $2,700,00O more, on basis Of
100000 cars in the state.
Traffic has tripled in the last ten
years and the highway system is be-
coming an important part of the
general transportation system. 1t
has to be provided for.
1.-THE number of cars may not in
crease as rapidly in the next ten
years, but their travel will, which
amounts to the same thing. Until
the states highways are paved, we
will continue to draw from road
funds for maintenance, and this is
short-sighted economy"
Maintenance Cost High
Maintenance averages from $500
to $1,000 annually over a four-year
period for gravel roads, Brown said,
as compared with approximately
$179 annually for pavement.
Motorists, who would bear the
burden of the increased revenues,
can drive their cars more cheaply,
by cent and half a mile, on
concrete or asphalt than on gravel,
he declared.
"The trouble is" he said, we're
practicing economy until it becomes
extravaganza"
AS 1927 ended 1850 of the 4,588
miles in the state system were paved
with concrete, to which has been
added about 265 miles this year.
BituminouS concrete and macadam,
rock asphalt, and Surface-treated
macadam, gravel and stone totaled
488 miles to which have been added
80 miles, and stone Cratic and
water-bound macadam) totaled
1,151 miles. Gravel remained on
1864 miles of state roads at the
close of 1927.
Total mileage Of highways which
would come under the five-year
paving plan includes 39,9l5 miles Of
county roads and 28,626 miles of
township roads.
Defends Extension Plan
Defending the proposal for ex-
tension Of the state system of paved
highways, Brown cited a state high
way department report saying 80
per cent of Indiana's population
resides on and is served directly by
the state system and two thirds of
all traffic is carried on this system,
while the state contributed only
about one-third of the money that
went into construction in 1927.
Advocates of increased license
fees point out that only three states
have lower license fees than Indiana
Arizona. California and Colorado.
While the average for Indiana is
$685. a car, it is 1880 for the
United States.
In defense of the proposed in
crease in the gasoline tax, it is
pointed out that nineteen states
lave tax of 81 cents or more,
fifteen states 8 cents, and twelve 2
cents. Excepting Illinois, where the
gas tax law was held unconstitu-
tional, Massachusetts, and New York
alone, have no gasoline tax.