The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1931-04-24
SPEEDING UP ROAD PROGRAM
TO AID STATE DEVELOPMENT
Debenture Passage Will Bring to State Vast Sum of
Federal Money Otherwise Lost-Anticipatinp
Future Revenue Not New Says Moss-In Use
by Many Cities and Schools

Wolf Point Wednesday evenint
and made a talk on Referendum
No. IS, the debenture measure, Il
a fair sized audience. The talk was
broadcast and was undoubtedly
heard by a large audience at home
Mr.. Moss is chairman of the state
highway committee in the legis'
lature, and was one of those who
sponsored House Bill No. 1, pro
viding for debenture warrants to
help match federal money for the
highway work. This bill was pass
ed, but was declared unconstitu-
tional, it being held that the mat
ter must be submitted 10 a vote
of the people. This will be done
at the special election on May 5.
Mr.. Moss said that much of the
opposition to referendum No. 35
has come about through ignorance.
That people may have an oppor-
tunity to learn the facts, he is
travelling through northern Mon
tana telling just what the deben-
ture plan will mean to Montana.
No Additional Tax
Passage of this referendum will
not increase the tax on gas, for
a five cent gas tax has been vot-
ed to be in effect until 1871, but
it will enable Montana to make
use of federal funds which are
to Montana's credit, but which, If
they are not matched with state
funds, will eventually revert TO
other states. Passage of %referen-
dun No. 35 will enable the state
to issue SG,0O0.0 900 worth of antici-
warrants to be redeemed
when the gas tax money comes in.
Moss pointed iout that the
plan was not a new one, as it is
the system used by cities and
school boards the state over. War
rants are issued in the Spring in
anticipation of the funds that will
later on when the taxes
are paid. The warrants are usual
y not paid at once by the district
or city. They r cashed at some
bank, the bank holds the warrants
until they are called, and collects
interest from the city or school dis
,rict for the time they r held.
The system is old but the name
'anticipatory warrants" has not
)een used.
Lessons Car Upkeep
Mr.. Moss spoke OF the cost OF
,perating automobiles over unim-
proved roads as compared with
he cost on improved roads, and
aid that if only one-third of the
vas done on improved
Dads. the lessened cost would be
efficient to take are of the in
rease by reason of the gas tax.
Fifty-two percent of the net gas
Ak, he said, which will go to
latch federal funds will be paid
y eight counties, in which are
Icated the larger cities of the
ate. He said the big cities have
!ore large gas-eating cars. and if
icy have good roads to travel
people of the cities are going
do even more travelling on the
ghways than they do now.
Six million dollars of state mon
available for use within the
ext four years will speed up the !
program of the state |
six to seven years. In other !
1rds, construction that would pro ,
bly, take from 10 to IL years 7
ithout the use of this money. d
III be completed in four years
d once the main trunk system J :
completed, the gas tax money Y
n be applied to branch or feed T
roads. h
If the debenture plan is APPROX
+, during the next four years n
ere will be available from state n
d federal sources S23, 900, 900. g
this amount S1,756,400 will go O
the Northeastern district in g
ich Roosevelt county is located, 8
d s1,467,40 will go to district II
J.. I in which McCone county is I;
:ated. In all, eastern Montana W
get $1,000, 900, or more than a,
entire amount to be raised by tn
debenture plan. m
Construction Economical Now al
IN extensive program OF high m
y construction during the nex in
: years will relieve the unem- CO
situation and put mon
in circulation. Another thing th
ich MIR. Moss pointed out was nj
fact that just at the present w
@, when construction work has T..
q slowed down. contractors are hi
er for work and are figuring ~,
IT contracts very close. At a III
;Dt iet ing of road contracts to- as
ing a million and a half dol of
in Helena, the work was TAX
by responsible contractors at
1000 less than the engineers
'rn1fac TG,a q, uNiotinu rom