Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-06
FEDERAL ROAD
AID APPROVED
Marmon Man Urges
Support of War Sur
plus Measure

An opportunity that may not oc-
cur again for many years is offered
in the bill introduced by Congress
man Edward 4. Browne of Wisconsin
in the house of representatives pro-
viding for the creation OF a special
highway fund from the sale to the
French government Of surplus war
material, road building equipment
and supplies.
In urging motorists throughout
the country to support this measure
by enlisting their respective con-
gressmea in its behalf. II. II. Brooks,
general sales director of the Mar
mon Motor Car company. points out
that a fund of $500, 100000 would be
available by August ].
SHOULD this vast sum be appro-
priated to the department OF agri-
culture for the construction and I'm.
provement Of rural post roads n
bridges as provided for under the
federal aid road act" SAID MT.
Brooks, at would enable some Of the
sparsely populated states to link up
the gaps in the federal highway
system and would discourage at
tempts to impose additional taxes on
the motorist. A certain percentage
OF the Iunu NOuAu UG aHRAA~N -
the Improvement Of motor roaods IN
Americas national parks which are
attracting hundreds of thousands OF
tourists every year.
"This extra sum of $40O, OOO,OOO
would be almost equivalent to an
nual income for state and county
highway work received from license
fees and gasoline taxes and would
renresent nearly five times the
mount voted annually by the ma
tional government for federal aid.
IL would be sufficient TO build near
ly 1,4OO miles of paved highway at
$4,000 a mile. NV.
Passage Of the Browne bill would
impart n tremendous impetus to road
building in America and would 60
much toward taking up the slack IN
unemployment, putting thousands OF
men TO work, and contributing 70
the general prosperity. 1t wouid
perhaps make possible the compile
ton Of at least one transcontinental
paved highway, bringing the hiatus
between the Mississippi Valley and
the Pacific coast.
There can be no doubt as TO the
wisdom OF the governments policy IN
AIuIIlK HI W
roads, but many of US have wonder
ed why Uncle Sam, especially IN view
Of the military value Of transconti-
mental highways, has not given much
more assistance than he has.
"Since the federal aid road act
was passed in 1915, the number Of
motor vehicles using the public
highways has increased from $780,
900 to more than 23.000,000, and
road building has Jagged so FAR be-
hind automobile production that the
saturat;on point of our highway
system Is approaching. The roads are
sadly inadequate to meet the needs
Of traffic.
Federal aid goes 70 the improve
ment OF only seven per cent Of the
roads, r~ggregating about 100000
miles. and in order TO obtain money
for such aid. the states have had
TO raise much larger amounts. Thus,
especially in the western states, an
unusually heavy tax burden has
fallen OIL the shoulders Of the farm
er.
"Since the government as a war
measure placed an excise tax on
automobiles and accessories. the mo-
torist has paid into the federal
treasury more than 81 10000 600 900.
In addition to this. the automobile
owner has paid his state license
tax. his personal property tax, and
in most states a tax IN gasoline.
1.-THE government should not be
lacking in gratitude TO the motor
lists who have borne these burdens
without ~grumbling. but, sentiment
aside. the appropriation of 100000
900 in a lump sum for the improve
ment Of the national highway sys-
TEN should be regarded as a good
investment.
Motorists individually and in
their organizations should BY all
means urge the passage Of this bill"