Evening star., 1928-12-16

torate opposed to bond issues as
principle and opposition for various
causes, mostly due to misunderstanding,
the association in three months con-
verted the State to the road bond issue.
The amazing part of the campaign
was its small cost, the only salaried
people being campaign manager.
clerical force and publicity manager. A
loyal press opened its columns wide,
gave enthusiastic approval to the bond
issue and all misunderstanding were
removed. In addition to newspaper
publicity, circulars we're issued, officers
OF the association made speeches and
the State was thoroughly organized by
district county and precinct. The
West Virginia outdoor Advertising AS
Sociation contributed $4,000 worth of
panels at various vantage points in the
State urging votes for the bond issue.
Sixteen hundred residents of the State
contributed 81 each for memberships
and others gave larger amounts. In
some sections of the State loyal business
men grouped together and bought
whole page advertisements urging votes
for the bond issue.
Pivot for Highways.
The tourist can't we'll miss West
and west, and north and south, pass
through 1t than any other State. Driv-
ing from Pittsburgh into West Vir-
ginia is only a matter of minutes; from
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
Washington Cincinnati and other
populous centers a matter of few
hours by motor. In fact one could in
single day go from Pittsburgh and
other big cities, spend the greater part
Of the day fishing in the mountain
streams of West Virginia and return
home the same day. The fine roads
and the wonderful scenic beauties of
the State are within easy reach Of the
millions of the most thickly populated
sections of the United States
Within four years West Virginia will
have expended more than a hundred
million dollars on it's State road sys-
tenn alone. All that in a space of 10
years. 1t was only nine years ago that
a campaign was launched Ito lift West
Virginia out of the mud" The first
step was the ratification of the $50,-
100000 bond issue November 2, 1920. At
that time no two important cities of
the State were connected by good roads.
Today they are all connected and the
work goes merrily on This bond issue,
unlike that voted at the recent elec-
tion, was revolving fund. AS soon
as part of the original bonds we're
retired, a. similar amount of new ones
could be issued to bring the total out
standing back to fifty millions Since
1921, SCI, 100000 of State road bonds
have been expended or placed under
contract and Federal aid since 1921 has
been $5,223,642.55. There are ap-
prcximately 1000 miles in the State
road system of which 2,500 miles have
been hard-surfaced. 900 miles have
beef graded and 600 miles are yet un-
improved.
No Property Tax.
And West Virginia's roads are be-
ing constructed without any property
tax. The entire cost, including the
annual interest and principal pay
ments on State road bonds, State road
maintenance, and overhead expenses
of the State Road Commission, has
has been paid from the proceeds OF
motor vehicle licenses and the gasoline
tax.
The motor vehicle owner pays the
entire bill The West Virginia gaso-
line tax is four cents per gallon. The
total average cost of operating motor
vehicle In West Virginia last year, from
tax standpoint, was $31.32. Thus the
average motor vehicle owner pays the
State $2.61 month for use of the
State road system, which gives access
to all other parts OF the State, and to
the road systems of other States.
And exhaustive experiments show
this to be paying investment for the
motorist. A paved road saves the
motorist an average the year around
of two cents for every mile travelled
in gasoline, oil, tires, repairs and de-
probation. AS the average motor
vehicle owner travels 5000 miles a year
these good roads save him $120 an
nually, or almost four times as much
as he pays the State.
, West Virginia wants the world to
know. the truth about its roads.