Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-07-21

could use II to retire its bonds or
to build lateral roads. The county
refunds would begin as soon as the
bond plan goes into effect. in order
to relieve at once tax burdens which
in some counties have become ex-
ceSsive.
Bonds Issued i'm Groups
The bonds would be issued in
groups and , obviously, interest
would be paid only on the bonds is
sued. over a period OF 10 years,
however, during which the building
program is expected to be under
way, Mr.. Sterling says q three-cent
gasoline tax will be sufficient for
interest and sinking fund require
mentS.
The chief opponents Of the Sterl-
ing bond plan have advocated q
pay-as-you-so policy in highway
construction, claiming that present
revenues Of the highway depart
ment are sufficient 10 carry for
ward a reasonably rapid program or
highway building. Some Of them
have gone a step further and as
serted that county refunds could be
made from present revenues and
that construction work still could
be carried on.
MIR. Sterling has answered these
statements with actual figures
showing that If county aid, which Is
unsound economically, is stopped,
the road building program would
almost be at a standstill If existing
roads are maintained adequately. In
this contention, he Is backed up by
officials of the United States high
way department who say that a pay
as-you-go policy usually results IN
a pay-and-don't-go condition.
Not An Experiment
The bond plan has been endors-
e. enthusiastically as the only feas-
lble lei Of completing a road syS-
TEN as large as nat OF Texas I'D q
reasonable length Of time. In this
connection, ii mas been pointed out
ay Mr.. Sterling that the plan IS not
an experiment; that II has been
tried and found practical in 81
American states. He points OF. that
the state OF California, which built
one Of the finest highway systems
IN the world, under the BOND plan,
mas doubled its population in the
past 10 years and mas jumped to
sixth state u the point OF p?pula-
ton in the United States.
Aside from the tightening Of
present property tax burdens by
county refunds and prevention OF
increased taxes IN the future BY re-
moving from the counties the res
possibility Of building state roads.
he bond plan has numerous oUhe.
tangible benefits. The taxpayer, VINO
S interested vitality in the spend
.ng Of any money, whether derived
from a gasoline TAI or other tax, is
entitled to know exactly what bene-
III he viii derive from any PROPOSE
lion. Recognizing this fact. Mr..
Sterling has explained the benefits
10 be derived from the bond propos-
u.
Many Missing Links
A road is no better than its poor
st link, MIR. Sterling says. Smooth
-Jncrete highways connecting two
great cities are trayersirg the state
IRE useless II gaps are present which
Jec0me impossible in bad weather.
Il present there is not a mao.
.ghWay in the state which has
one OF these devastating gaps
acre is not a single route acros
~ state hard-Surfaced all the way
0drists are inclined TO regard Tex
) as a dirt road state. a state to
u avoided by long detours II neces-
my. The bond plan Of highway
construction would eliminate this
tlation. In 10 years a connected
ys.em Of state highways, without
glps. wolld he provided. Counties
could build lateral roads connecting
with the state system. Farmer
would be provided arteries leadllG
10 markets. Business and traC
would be stimulated industry won
be encouraged and new settlers al
sracted.
This Is a critical time" Mr.. Ster-
ling said in a recent address. Tex
as either must face the situation by
making an investment In hard-sur-
aced roads or be left behind IN
watch the onward march OF her
more progressive neighbor states"
Paved roads. in decreased main
senance costs alone, would bring an
immense saving. Each mile OF road
concreted would W. the state $3.50
4 year IN maintenance costs, accord
ing to figures prepared by the state
highway department engineers.
School To Benefit
Development Of schools through
4 connected system Of highways, by
use of buses IN rural sections, would
bring intangible benefits whose
value could not be measured with
the cold ya-dstick Of dollars and
| cents.
Highway engineers declare that
the saving in gasoline, wear and
tear on automobiles and deprecia-
ton. II concrete highways are con-
s.dered in comparison to unpaved
roads, would retire bonds needed to
pave the roads, in a period Of 80
years.
Good roads bring population,
capital, industry, greater purchasing
power. increased property values.
multiplied gasoline consumption and
more tax revenues TO pay for the
roads" Mr.. Sterling says. -At the
critical era which this state is now
entering. good roads may NEAR the
difference between a stagnant Tex
as and n Of doubled population
and wealth"
Tsople to Decide
Mr.. Sterling is willing for the
people to decide. He insists only thai
tie nnnnin arn nntitind a y r-rtn nr