Evening star., 1936-09-05

ditch was dug and parts Of it were
too low and had to be filled in.
Second, there's the expenditure OF
about $310,370 on Improvements to
the State fair grounds. The fair
grounds are idle most of the year,
but they do take in some money as
q business proposition for the State,
and Colorado should have betrayed
much more of the cost instead OF
leaving the bulk of it to taxpayers in
other parts of the country-this is
the chief objection raised even among
Colorado citizens who feel that the
cost of maintenance will ultimately
be a burden upon them.
About S250,000 was spent on horse
barns. There are 10 units, each cost
ing about $23,597. Commenting on
these barns the New York Sun, which
has made a speciality Of exposing
these boondoggles, remarks: Even
the most aristocratic of horses, when
ushered into such barn. ought not
to look the w. P. A. in the mouth, but
the question which doubtless rises
in the minds of many Coloradoans is:
How is the State to produce enough
horses to flll all these barns unless
there is an immediate return to the
horse buggy days?"
Third, there is comment on the out
lay of S50,000 Of Federal money to
improve streets and driveways leading
to the State fair grounds when, at a
town not far away. the President ap-
proved a similar improvement of II
miles Of streets at a total cost of
only $2.500.
U. S. Helps Maintenance.
Fourth, there is the roofing and ex-
tension of the poultry building author
lied by the President through the
w. P. A. at a cost to the Federal
Treasury Of $24900.
Fifth, Federal money already is
being used for maintenance purposes.
Thus large and 127 small bridges
are being painted by the w. P. A. at
o total cost of $4,000.
Sixth, a zoo costing S24,595 of
Federal money is being constructed
in the city park.
Seventh, another $24,595 has been
borrowed to landscape a hill in the
animal pens. This is also Federal
money.
Eighth. the young people Of Pueblo
are to have their dancing pavilion in
the city park remodelled. 1t will cost
S24,750 of Federal money.
Ninth, wading pools are being con-
structed by the w. P. A. at a cost of
S24,600 to the Federal Treasury.
$4,000 for S2,233,096.
Pueblo County has 1,506 persons
who pay income taxes to the Federal
Government, and since the average
was $50 for the State the assumption
Is that about $4,000 will be paid by
Pueblo County residents toward re-
payment to the Federal Government
for having spent $2,233,096 in this
county. Approximately $2,140,O00
therefore, has to be paid by taxpayers
in other parts of the country for i'm
provements they will never see nor
enjoy.
The big question then is whether
the employment given could have
been otherwise furnished or whether
food and shelter for the unemployed
could have been otherwise provided
by this county even with Federal aid
for much less expense. Most citizens
hereabouts, glad to have the gift of
the improvements, will nevertheless
concede privately that relief could
have been much less eXpensively
handled.
What has happened in Pueblo may
or may not be typical of what has
happened in other cities and counties,
but the general impression I gather
from other States, too, is that boom
doggling has come to be a good deal
OF joke-that is joke on the tax
payers Of the East and Middle West
who will have to pay the bill.
Copyright, 1850