Evening star., 1935-09-01

sets a new record. 1t Is devised
to last for two years and will in
volve q complete educational pro-
gram, plus rigorous enforcement of
the States motor vehicle regulations.
The State police force has been in
Structed to be both fair and firm
and told that its work must show
beneficial results over the two-year
period.
A study Of retail prices paid for
gasoline about August L in the capital
city of every State revealed that
State and Federal levies on motor
fuel now represent consumer sales
taxes ranging from 25.3 per cent to
"a per cent, the American Petroleum
Institute reports. 1t was found also
that in some capitals consumers pay
State or local general sales taxes in
addition to State and Federal gasoline
taxes.
The highest gasoline sales tax was
paid in Montgomery, Ala. There the
prevailing retail gasoline price is Is
cents per gallon, but consumers paid
60 per cent more, or "a cents per
gallon, because of taxes totaling 9
cents per gallon. In Tallahassee, Fla,
the posted retail price of gasoline was
125 cents per gallon, but consumers
were formed to pay 20.5 cents, or "a
per cent more, because of a State tax
Of 7 cents plus the l-cent Federal tax.
Only in eight California,
Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Mich
igan, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and
Utah, and In the District of Columbia
was increase in motor fuel costs be-
cause of taxes less than 80 per cent.
In IL States-Alabama, Arkansas,
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missis-
sippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
and Virginia-the cost per gallon was
increased 40 per cent or more by taxes.
In eight States-Alabama. Arkansas,
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mlssis-
sippi, New Mexico, and Tennessee-the
retail cost per gallon was increased
so per cent or more.
Large percentage increases in motor
fuel costs because of taxes were
found even in Rhode Island, Missouri,
and District of Columbia, where State
tax rates are loweSt-2 cents per gal
lon. In Jefferson City, Mo, city gas
oline tax Of l cent per gallon lifted
the total tax to cents per gallon, in
creasing the cost of fuel to the con-
sumner by 80 per cent. Federal taxes,
making the total tax rate 3 cents per
gallon, both in Rhode Island and the
District of Columbia, increased fuel
costs 234 per cent in the Nations
Capital and 28.6 per cent in Provi-
dence, r. I.
\ y
The American Road Builders Asso-
citation last week announced that the
association will hold a road show in
connection with its next annual con-
vention during the week of January
20, 1886, and that Cleveland has been
selected as the convention-road show
city.
The decision to hold the road show
was made by the associations board
Of directors upon recommendation Of
its Joint Convention and Exhibit Com
nittee after the committee met in Chi
cago and tabulated returns from a
poll conducted among manufacturers
and producers of highway equipment
and materials.
The committee, headed by William
Parrish, found that the manufacturers
and producers are overwhelmingly in
favor of resuming the road show.
which was abandoned in 1888.
For many years prior to that date
the road show ranked as the premier
annual display of durable goods-the
show window" of the highway indus
try-bringing together each year more
than 10000 highway and street Off
cials, engineers, contractors, manu-
facturers and producers for inspection
of the display units and discussion of
technical developments in the indus
try.
"The decision to resume the road
show means that those in closest
touch with the situation believe the
highway construction industry is on
the road to recovery" said William P.
Mcdonald. president of the association.
Expressions received from manufac-
turer members of the association are
the most encouraging in years. The
highway industry feels that prospects
are good for continuation of a nor
NAL, adequate road and street program
under the contract system.
"The wave Of pessimism that
gripped the highway construction in
dustry for several years appears to
have vanished and a hopeful. optimis-
tic atmosphere now prevails"
Mcdonald forecast that from 90
600 to $4,000 members of the highway
industry and profession will attend the
convention and road show in Cleve-
land.
Charles M. Upham, engineer-direc-
tor of the association, disclosed in
connection with Mr.. McDonald's an
nouncement that the highway-street
construction industry, together with
the allied grade crossing elimination
and protection program, has a poten-
tial fund well in excess of $500, ,000,-
900 available for the next 12-month
period, including both Federal and
State funds.