Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-07-21
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ways through the country. Under
Mr.. Sterling's plan this money
would be refunded and the county
could use ii to retire its bonds or
to build lateral roads. The county
refunds would begin as oon as the
bond plan goes into effect. II 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 a 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 a
pay-as-you-go policy in highway
construction, claiming that present
revenues Of the highway depart
ment are sufficient to carry for
ward a reasonably rapid program Of
highway building. Some Of them
have gone q step further and as
serted that county refunds could be
made from present revenues and
that construction work still could
be carried on.
Mr.. Sterling has answered these
statements with actual figures
showing that II county aid. which Is
unsound economically. is stopped,
the road building program would
almost be at a standstill II 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-
Ell enthusiastically as the only feas-
ible means of completing a road syS-
tenn as large as tnat OF Texas in a
reasonable length OF time. In this
connection, it mas been pointed out
by Mr.. Sterling that the plan Is not
an experiment; that 1t has been
tried and found practical in 81
American states, He points out that
the state of California, which built
one Of the finest highway systems
in the world, under the bond plan,
has doubled its population In the
past 10 years ana has jumped to
sixth state in the point Of p3puia-
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,
the bond plan has numerous orhe.
tangible benefits. The taxpayer. VINO
Is interested vitally in the spend
ing Of any money. whether derived
from a gasoline tax or other tax, Is
entitled to know exactly what bene-
fit he will derive from any PROPOSE
ton. Recognizing this fact, Mr.,
Sterling has explained the benefits
to be derived from the bond propos-
al.
Many Missing Links
A road is no better than its poor
est link, MIR. Sterling says. Smooth
concrete highways connecting two
great cities are traversing the state
are useless ii gaps are present which
become impossible in bad weather
AT present there is not a major
highway in the state which has
none of these devastating gaps
There is not a single route across
the state hard-surfaced all the way.
Tourists are inclined 10 regard Tex
as as a dirt road state. a state 70
be avoided by long detours If neces-
sary. The bond plan Of highway
construction would eliminate this
situation. In 10 years a connected
system Of state highways, without
gaps. wolld he provided. Countie:
could build lateral roads connecting
with the state system. Farmers
would be provided arteries leading
10 markets. Business and trade
would be stimulated, industry would
be encouraged and new settlers at
traced.
This IS a critical time" Mr.. Ster-
ling said in a recent address. Tex
as either must face the situation ol
making an investment In hard-sur'
faced roads or be left behind Y
watch the onward march Of ne
more progressive neighbor states
Paved roads. IN decreased main
tenance costs alone. would bring al
immense saving. Each mile Of roa'
concerted WOULD save the state S25'
a wear in maintenance costs. accord
ing TO figures prepared BY the stat'
highway department engineers.
School To Benefit
Development OF schools through
a connected system OF highways, b,
use Of buses IN rural sections, woulC
bring intangible benefits who's
value could not be measured Will
the cold yardstick Of dollars anC
cents.
Highway engineers declare tina
the saving in gasoline, wear anC
tear on automobiles and deprecia'
ton, II concrete highways are con
sidered in comparison to unpavec
roads, would retire bonds needed X
pave the roads, in a period Of 81
years.
Good roads bring population
capital. industry, greater purchasing
power, increased property values