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

DALLAS, Tex, Oct. 12.-(P-The
state Of Texas is "hamstrung by its
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 Commissioner in
convention here today.
Mr.. Sterling renewed his proposal
for a state bond issue Of $500, 00U 900,
to be retired in thirty years with
proceeds Of a gasoline tax Of less
than three cents a gallon.
AT the crawling rate at which we
are providing highway revenues now
under the illusory pay-as-you-go pol
ICY" he continued, 1--WE 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 car
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 contem-
plates a ten-year r~oad-buildlng pro-
gram at the same cost which would
require thirty years time under the
present plan. The counties would be
reimbursed out Of the S3OO,0Oo,OOO ior
the money they put into state roads
about $50. OO0, OO0-so they could use
IL on lateral roads; and the state
would take over exclusive support OF
state roads. ooo ooo
Under the bond plan, S~5O,oOO,OOo
would be expended the first year OF
the ten-year program; ~S4O,OOO,OOO the
second year; $50, 000, 600 the THIRD
and 1000 600 each additional year.
None of the bonds would bear inter
est until sold. The cost would be ohly
about SIP annually in gasoline taxes
for each automobile now IN leNAs'
minus the amount of increasing num-
Der of cars would pay IN later years.
Mr.. Sterling said
aAbout the nearest thing TO an oo-
lection, | / have heard against the plan
has been a rather vague
that $500, OO0. 900 is such a 4arge
amount OF money" he went on.
feel sure that an understanding OF
the situation will relieve any misglV-
incs on that score. As ! have SAID
strong ills must be met with strong
medicine.
ssThe state road bond issue WORKS
fairly we'll from both ends. II afioras
this generation good roads and makes
the next generation, which Will enjoy
them. nav its fair share OF the cost
Settlers ard homeseekers would pc
attracted 10 the state by good roads'
a bond issue would make 1t possioIe
10 build roads that will endure for a
half century, whereas the skimping
policv now in force compels the state
in order 70 give urgently needed re-
lief. to build many cheap roads tnat
will soon wear out and have 70 be re-
built. -.
consideration as long as present
methods are in effect. The system
must be changed. Not only should
their property be relieved OF levles
fo- state highways and their tax re-
sources left free for lateral road
building. but Zach and every county
should be rebated for expenditures
n has made for the construction OF
state roads ~
Mr.. Sterling estimated that Texas
.orid comulete 10000 or 1900 miles
~ naved roads during the ten-year
reriod tentatively proposed Tor the
dnration Of the $500, 600 600 program
This much work, added to the 5,OOO
or 5000 miles already hard-surfaced'
would constitute a network ineudihg
every important highway.
cat the same time" he said, "prae-
ticallv all the minor state roads could
be travelled or topped, and the coun-
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
uavs and the commission chairman
said he has been informed that most
satisfactory results have been OBJ
tanned where strong state supervision
IL maintained over road programs.
sThe states that have had time 20
test the bond method are convinced
that IL is far better for the state
70 ride while you pay" than to pay
as YOU go They are giving their
people roads 10 enjoy while they are
alive.
"The fallacy Of the latter policy Is
exactly the same thing as the fallacy
Of trying TO build = house wholly
with the rent on the house. For the
gasoline tax at the bottom is nothing
Q 0 less than road rent. You
finance your a II you expect
- Build them in any reasonable time;
and when you do finance and build
them. the customers will come. II we
had the $500. 100000 which ! propose
hat we provide. all well invested in
hsrd-surfaced roads today. a three
cent gasoline tax would pay 50 muen
bsyond u needs that we would be
.sLamed to charge that much.