Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-04-11

| lose the Federal money To match, al
| so the main roads crossing the State
| from east to west would be left un-
completed for a considerably longer
period which would make particular
ly hazardous driving for tourist trav-
ell across our state. The tourist trav-
ell had To be considered. AS time
goes on more and more people are
seeing the national parks, visiting
distant relatives and friends, practi-
cally all making the trip by the auto
route. Thus as they travel they must
purchase gasoline contributing their
bit towards the fund that is to build
better roads. The extra tax on gaso-
line of two cents per gallon went into
effect April first and is to cover a
period of four years. 1t is calculat-
ed by the State Highway Board that
the additional two cents will bring
in a million dollars more to the high
way fund each year. There is at the
present time approximately
$4,000, 10000 of federal aid money
which is available to Montana. 1t is
estimated that with the increased
revenue from the gasoline tax this
surplus will be matched and used in
the construction of Montana high
ways during the next four years.
The result will, of course, be to ma
terially speed up the present rate of
construction progress. During the
next biennium it is expected that the
main tourist roads throughout the
state will be practically completed,
so that transcontinental travellers
crossing Montana will have no need
to fear those gumbo sections of road
which have caused difficulty during
wet weather in the past. 1t is antici-
pated by the State Highway Board
that there will be sufficient revenue
to provide for the construction of be-
tween four hundred and five hundred
miles of new work each year for the
next four years. Just as soon as the
main highways across the State are
completed the inhabitants of Sheridan
County who plan on a motor trip can
find nothing more enjoyable than to
travel westward and view the natural
and beautiful scenery among the
mountains in the Western part of
our State. A trip Of this kind could
then be made with very little expense.
A refund or drawback of five
cents per gallon for gasoline will be
paid back to any person who pur-
chased gasoline under the laws of
this State for the purpose of operat-
ing or propelling stationery gas en-.
gines and tractors used for agricul-
tural purposes. All such applications
for refunds shall be filed with the
Board in the State of Montana within
six months after the date on which
such gasoline was purchased as
shown by such invoices. During the
legislative session just closed there
was considerable agitation and ar
gument by non-farmer members for
the repeal of refund and drawback
gasoline law, claiming that the farm
ers are receiving refund On gasoline
used to operate their automobiles and
trucks which are used on the high
ways. This is just a gentle reminder
what act some future legislative
assembly, might pass providing the
refund law is abused. Remember
that the members of the Montana
legislature who represent tractor
farmers are in the minority.
The program OF the State High
way Commission is to first complete
the main highways of the State,
then complete branch roads leading
into the main ones. On the laid out