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About The Klamath news. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1923-1942 | View Entire Issue (April 18, 1926)
A Billon- Doflkes MTdHs 4 1 rti lwir11p. Modi (P. MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE I I'i i V 'f J ;'jfeu,i'. ' l TEES ASD DRIVERS LZrifi UK JrJ X, YV-CM A Am ' $150,000,00 W Aw Y?-3 f MKFEDEBJ II I city - oh gasoline ? W2,987, 749. System of Improved Roads Has Converted Continent Into a Neighborhood An Interview with Thoe. Mac-fthan half of this Is spent under the Donald. Chief U. S. Bureau ol Public Reads. By JUOSON C WELLIVER maA uiuiui mullah cu iuui from coast to coast stops nis car at. a muni, puuud on the side ot a cement road in a middle western state, and to the attendant's polite "How much?" replies: "Ten gallons." While the "ru" Is helni drawn ths attendant, notlnc that the car bears a California license. Tenures: "You've come a long way sir?" "Yes, considerably more than 1. 000 miles,'' replies the driver. "And these last few miles hare been particularly interesting, be cause I used to live in this coun ty, and this is my first Tislt for a dozen years. When I last saw It there were only dirt roads; mod In rainy weather, dust In dry. In the last hoar we hays almost crossed the connty, on either cement or macadam. When I lived here. It would have takes half a day, and pretty nearly ruined a car." By that time, the tank be ins filled, the motorist Interrupts his reminiscences to inquire: "How muchr "Ten gallons at 21 cents; $2.10," advises the attendant. Mr. Motorist passes over a bill. and while change is being made, continues : The Highway Revolution "We've come from California. and have scarcely had enough ot bad roads to make ns appreciate the good ones. Yet It's only a few years since we all nsed to talk and write endlessly about the coon try's greatest single need being good roads. They nsed to tell ns it would take centuries to equip this country with such roads, because of the expense. But here they are; I wonder how the country has .man aged to pay for them." "Well, sir," suggests the gas man. "you have just paid an Instal ment on them yourself. Yoo paid II cents a gallon, of which 3 cents Is state tax going straight to the road fund. Last year that 3 cent tax In this state apgreirated almost 17.000.000. Every dollar of it went into these roads. Besides that, the state collected nearly $5.00n.ono from motor .licenses. That went to the road fund, too. So you see you folks who buy the gag are th ones who build the road." "But of course," suggest Mr. Motorist, "there's the big contri bution that the Federal Govern ment makes to aid in slate road construction. At least, that part of it doesn't precisely come out of the man who pays the gas bill." The attendant, who happens to be ot the sort that specializes In understanding - his Job, smiles broadly. The Story of Federal Aid "That's where you are mistaken. Last year the Government paid about $96,000,000 to the states to help their rosd building. But In the same year Uncle Sam collected over $14",000,000 In internal rev enue taxes on motor cars, parts and accessories. So you see the man who buys the gas not only paid the National Government's share, but enough more to leave Uncle Sam a balance ot nearly $60,000,000." Mr. Motorist's Interest was a good deal Intrigued, and a few days later, being in Washington, he drove around to the Department of Agriculture, and called on Thomas 11. MscOonald, Chief of the Bureau of Public Roads. He wanted to know whether the filling station nan had his facts on straight. Mr.' MacDonald was gracious, and more. Quite evidently he wanted people to know about the very matters Mr. Motorist was find ing so Interesting. "Tlit! people of the United States are now spending Just about an even billion dollars annually In building good rnartu," he said. "Thst doesn't Include city streets; Just country roads. A little mote states' departments of roads, and a little less than halt under the minor governmental units coun ties, townships, etc "To put It another way, the country is spending on rural high ways alone Just about as much as the National Government cost be fore tbe war. It la one of those as touishing things that, a dozen years ago, nobody would have be lieved possible; and yet It is not only being done, but being done so .easily that few people fully real ize Its significance. Why, it has taken nearly a century to get $20. 000.000.000 invested In our national railroad system; the rural high ways system, at the present rate, will require that much in leas than twenty years. "The equipment of this continent with modern roads has been the most amazing provision ot a public otillty that any community ever accomplished in a similar period. Historians say the Roman Empire was held together by its highways, radiating from Rome to the prov inces. Well, Americans can boast that our highway system has con verted a continent Into a neigh borhood in. a few years. It realty represent the Inauguration ot a new system of taxation; a system ot licenses and ex cises levied against particular privileges or classes of proper ty, with the pro- set down $.163. 500.000, as the 1925 fees for au tomobile reglstra Hon and licenses. Then another $150,000,000 as es timated property taxes on 20.000, 000 automobiles in this country. After that, set down $143,430,709, the Federal ex cise tax on automobiles, parts and accessories for 1935. Finally, put down $50,000,000 as probably a conservative estimate ot the wheel- age taxes, additional tax on gaso line charged by cities or counties, and flues collected from motorists. Now add those figures." Mr. Motorist "toted up" the Items, and announced that they aggregated $749,930,709. "According to this," he said, looking up, "the motorists are pay ing very near the whole ot the na tional road bill, instead of hal!" "Yes," replied Mr. MacDonald, " a n d w e have not Included all the Items. Thus far, I have given yon figures that for the greater part 1921 requlr-' ed that a complet e, system of roads bo designated within 'two years as the ones to which Uncle Sam would give assist ance. Nobody who waa not connect ed with this department will ever have the faintest conception of the task Involved In laying out that map. It waa found that there were I.stiU.OCt miles of highway In tbe country. Ot these, 7 per cent, or 200,114 miles, were to be In- ' IPFEDERAL INTERKAI CITY yvHrVV J. REVEHUE TAXES AX V A, ZajXJ f ON CARSPARTS " XFtfiMtWil ll , f - nTCCriTlTl?e (X LsW I ill?" 1 OA possible tor motorists to drive) thousands ot miles on a designated routs whose markings become so familiar that allsr a fuw miles ha ueed sot ask directions. "Filially. Federal participation has msdo possible a great number of Important bridges at strategic poluls. When a stream ivpamteg two counties or two states. It has often been Impossible to get tlieifl to agree where to build aud bow to divide the coat of a brlds. In such run the Federal authority has repiatwlly mediated Older ences and secured construction. I.el ins mention soms Instances. "MtsiMiurl lias been a stale for over a century. IXvlded east and weit by Hie Missouri Hirer, com munication between the two see- atsts's diesilvsulsgs. Four bridges across the Missouri wars required In the nations! highway program) and Federal ro-operailon with lbs state has mads 11 posolble to se cure them. The Tennessee. Arkansas Cast "An even more striking case Is at Memphis. Tvunnriee, where for generations there has been need fur h"ltr crossings ut the Missis sippi. It s luigely a qiiastloa of expenen. llul under the p res ent day plan for financing high- sis. that difficulty Is almost rrmoted. Ijit year Tenuesaee collected 1.1.3,;3 In gasoline laics, while Arkansas collected .1.60l.9si. Then the two states collected nearly as much mors la niouir vehUio fees. With lbs red rsl Government paying aome whers near half, and ths states having this ItiOOO.oos fund Is draw upon, ons readily sees bow the financial problem Is solved. "Another bridge thst has a pe culiar Importance, both locally and In the national highway system, hsa likewise been needed for gen erations, across Itsrltsn Bay, Nsw Jersey. It Is ons of ths links In lbs chain of commvntcaUpn between New York City and ths country. In 124 New Jersey had some $700. 000 of Federal aid allotted to her, and In 1916 over $1400.000. Ho the atsts Agreed thst this Itsrltsn bridge should be built, costing about $4,000,000. Federal funds msds up about one-third ths amount- The Itrhhrv, over a mile and a half long. Is now nearly com pleted." Fast Growth of "Css" Tsx Mr, Motorist waa by this time so far Interested thst -when ha rosea ed New York he called on ths American Petroleum Institute and the National Antnmohlle Chamber ot Commerce. From them he learned that ths gasoline tag wss first imposed In 19111, In ths slate ot Oregon, and has bow been adopted ' by all states, except Illi nois, New York. New Jersey and Massachusetts. Tlffe tendency has been continually to Increase the rata per gallon. As lata as 1V21 gasoline taxea for the entire coun try were only about $5,000,000; a year later, $12,000,000: In 1:3. si most $37,000,000: In 1924. $79,000 000. and In 1925 nearly $143,000,000. With good prospects thst the "gas" tax will he adopted In the near future by atatea which do not PROPERTY, WCOME. CORPORATIOtt.PRODUCTIOU OTHER. TAXES PAID BY OIL And. OTHER INDUSTRIES 345,000,000. IMPROVED HIGHWAY EFFECTS TREMENDOUS SAVLWo IK GASOLINE CONSUMPTION ceeds dedicated for the greater part to providing highways." "But." Interjected Mr. Motorist, "how about this statement that the special taxes on motor vehicles and their fuel amount to about half :he billion dollars spent for highways each year?" "It is excessive only in Its mod eration." replied Mr. MacDonald. "Nobody can give you exact fig ures. But here are some items. I'ut them down on a paper, there. The state taxes on gasoline, rang ing from 1 cent up to 6 cents per gallon, in 1925 were just about $143,000,000. Put that down. Next, are either official or approximate ly so. But they do not include property taxes of the automobile manufacturers, nor taxes on build ings and lots devoted to motor car merchandising. They do not In elude income and corporation taxes derived from motor car business. They omit all state, lo cal, production, corporation or In come taxes ot the petroleum Indus try. Yet that Industry has a capi talization ot about $9,000,000,000." Mr. Motorist made a little calcu lation on his paper. Looking up, he said: "These additional taxes would THE OLD TIME TOLL GATE. AKD THE MODERN ONE GASOLINE TAXES BY STATES States Ala. Ark. Ariz, fit. 'el. rnn. I1. Ma. '.a. M.dio III. lr:d. l'twa Kiui. Ky. I-a. .Me. Vd. At .-our. Minn. Midi. Minn. Sll. Mnnt. . Net.. ' Nev. Oas Tax per Oal, Collections 1925 I 4 t 4 S Nons 1925 ; M ts.iot :.6:i.91 84H.275 J3. (.. yjl 1 hl tjl I. 9IIS VS 3:.n.r.io 7.o:4..'.ll 4.42I.S14 92.t;j .7?J.4l S.21 5.404 r :;7,ifi4 r; o4(. coo 2 3:i.:,4 2.UIW.OOQ Z.OitZ.SSe 3 r.S.04S II. Odli.OfN! . I.4:i'..of :t 4.!i4.2i'l 7::.V"no 2.ou.o.i( Ststes N. It ' N. J. N. Mex. N. Y. -. N. I J, I4. Ills. (!-. r-nnn. It. I. s. H. II. Tt-nn. T.x ITtuli Vt. V:i. Wash. V. Vs. WIS. Wvn. IlilL of CC Total Oas Tsx per Oal. Collections 1925 I None a None 4 1 . 2 , ! 1925 , 790.000 M7.IS4 l,f72.0M 9,13'j.kir, 1.14:: in ..si;.f.':3 10,'JOO.fKI 1M.H4 s i .',.:. I.KW.1P2 3. !':!. 4:.:l B.7M.0O7 ;.-,.'.-, r.f. 3.MT. o; . ;.IKii (Hhl :: i J. 447 2.1 !i7t 77.g;.(! 142,887,74 run at least $345,000,000, on the basis of taxes In general. If we add that In. It totals $1,094,930,709. That's what car owners and build ers, gasolltio users and producers, are paying. It more than meets your wuulo highway cost of a billion." ' Mr. MacDonald leaned back ana thought a moment. "There Is a widespread notion," he presently said, "that Fcdoral aid represents a large share of the Investment In good roads. As a matter of fact. In the eight years from 191S to 1925 IncliuUve, the Government has contributed $460,000,004 to help the states build roads. That Is consid erably lei than half of what the country, spent on roads In either 11124 or 1!iJ5. Moreover, In the same eii:ht ycjirs Hint Hie Govern ment ivuh distributing Hint $4(10. onn.ftiio to the slates. It collected 'l7::.un i.ooo In Internal revenue lar'-s on motor cars, parts and ac cessories. Other hundreds of mil lions were rollecieil In Ininmn nnd corporation tiixos fioni motor rnr manufacturers snd dealers. Tlie Federal contribution to ream, as compared to that ot tbe people who make and use the cars and gasoline, has been decidedly a modest one. "On the other hand, while the Federal contribution Is only about 10 per cent of highway expense, It hss accomplished results alto gether out of proportion to Its amount. First, It was an Incentive to the states, because Uncle 8am required thorn to invest at least as much as he contributed. Also, the Government retains a part In tho general supervision of construc tion, and a share In dntortnlnlng routes. Fo wo have built roads on higher standards, and hnvn organ Ized them Into n truly national ays tern.- Instead of forty-eight state systems. "Some day It will 'ha realised that this wus the mnnt vnlualile contribution. A man driving from Morton to New York may pans through four staters Fvorv one of them might have a splendid tilr.li wnv system; but If h -e did nut articulate at the stale linen, the trip would be almost Impossible. "Ths Federal Highway Act ot eluded In the na tional systom, eli gible for Federal aid. Well, pretty nearly every mile ut the 2,806,061 was a candidate for des ignation as a Fed oral highway. Nobody will ever dream how much pulling and haul leg, I02 rolling, and variegated In flusnce waa enlisted. But in the nd the system as laid out waa a truly natlo.'iul sue. "When the map was published It showed nearly the entire 200,000 miles ot designated roads; and since then .48.4S& miles ot these have been Improved; nearly 13,000 miles more nre under construction, and over 2,000 miles approved for oarly beginning of work. In addi tion to that, many states have built, without Federal aid, exten sive sections which are Included within this national system; In fact, Iheso state contributions ag gregate 65,000 miles; so that ap proximately two tliiriln of the 200. 000 mllo national hlfthr.ny system hno been Initially Improved. "Along with all this, there Is ths Fedrnl .nperv!loii over ennmruo tlon and nislnioiis.ico. When Uncle Uai.i haj helped build a roud, he reoorvcj nuilinrlly to require Its l.ropor mUntonsnco. Then there la the business ot uniform marking along hlihwayi, which maksi It now have It, and with the gallon age rates , being Inoreased la other states, Mr. Motorist calculated that this tax alone would soon total $200,000,000 a year; quits possibly nuring 19Z6. On his way back to California, Mr. Motorist stopped at ths same filling station where his Interest In highway finance had first been aroused. He found ths earns atten dant and ordered the same ten gal lons. While ha was saying, he said: r "I find that ths total of motor Ta bids licenses,' automobile property taxea, gasoline taxea. Internal reve nue taxes on oars and parts, various speclsi motor taxes, and, finally, the general property taxes, corpo ration ana income taxes, ot the oil industry and motor car manufac turers, actually amount to nearly a nunnreu million dollars nor annum In excens ot the tillllon dollars that the country Is spending to build s.m maintain rnada." , Which suggests." replied ths station attendant, "that without quite realizing It we have retnrnad to the old system of collecting tolls for ths use of ths highway." "That seems to be precisely ths sltiistlon." replied Mr. Motorist as ho "stepped on II" and headed ills car westwsrd. "We folks who buy number plates ones a year, and 'gas' all the time, are building ths good roadi pf tho patloa."