Show Drivers Pay Billion For Using Highways nr NEt XE WASHINGTON Feb The 12 12 cost of 0 building and maintaining roads roads in this country amounts to nearly one ono billion dollars a year and Is 13 being paid directly or indi- indi N by motorists who make male use or of the highways according to a udy by Thomas H 11 MacDonald MaeDonald hiet ot of the bureau of o public roads Department of ot Agriculture This cost represents the money p op nt nt each year ear just for Cor country roads and does doea not Include the ex- ex expense ex expense pense p-nse of ot city streets Morn More Interesting than the road th dl Itself said sald MaCDon- MaCDon Id are the thc various means em- em em- em employed em employed to distribute costs among motorists in a ajust Just and cen- cen cen manner Tr ST GAS S TAXES T Slate gasoline arid and registrations registration B s represent about half halt of ot this amount The gasoline tax varies prom from lOm one ono to five cents In the vari- vari various various vari various ous states statts whilo New Jerse Jersey Now New NewYork York York Illinois and Massachusetts h re no gas gIs tax These states de- de dep de p nd upon the great number of o au- au registrations to furnish t venue for Cor road construction Other Important sources or of orr r venue for tor highways arc fire property taxes on automobiles of this coun coun- coun- coun country country r try federal excise tax on Automo automo- Automobiles automobiles biles parts putI and accessories and fines Cines collected from motorists There There are aro also the taxes on property of the automobile manu- manu and buildings s and lots do- do devoted dol dc l voted tp motor car merchandising The Income and taxes from motor business and and the slate state local production corporation or Income taxes of ot the tho petroleum In- In Industry industry In Industry add to the tho road fund I All AID S SMALL ALL Federal aid also assists arista In road building but Its share sharo is comparatively comparatively comparatively small according to Mac Mac- MacDonald MacDonald Donald llac-Donald Donald who says In the tho eight years to 1925 the tho gov gov- gov- gov government government has contributed to help the states build roads That Is considerably less leM than half of ot what the country spent on roads In either cither 1924 or 1925 Moreover In the same eight years ears that the government was distributing distributing distributing In the tho states it t collected In Internal revenue taxes on motor cars parts I and accessories so 80 motorists turn furn furnish urn urn- ish the tha money for this contribution contribution contribution tion |