April, 1954 - Milwaukee Road Archive

30
As railroad men, do you know: WHICH ONE
OF THESE DOESN'T BURN TAX DOLLARS?
You're undoubtedly familiar
with these traffic control devices
for various forms of transportation.
But do you realize that only
one of them doesn't burn up tax
dollars?
Consider these facts. Up to the
end of 1953, Federal and local
governments had spent some 2
billion dollars on the construction
of civil airports and airways.
From the turn of the century
to June 30, 1953, Federal expenditures
for river and harbor
navigation facilities exceeded 4.3
billion dollars.
Highway construction in the
United States has cost 39 billion
dollars since 1921. Highway con­
struction and maintenance costs
come· to about 5 billion dollars
annually-with you, as a private
citizen, picking up the biggest
part of the bill. (For every 100
ton-miles of travel, a typical personal,
car pays taxes averaging
34 cents while a 30-ton highway
truck pays an average of only
12 cents.)
Railroads, on the other hand,
have spent more than 20 billion
dollars to install rights-of-way
and other facilities. In addition,
they pay taxe$' on them-which
help to subsidize their competitors
in the air, on the water and
highways.
When, therefore, the railroads
say they want the opportunity to
compete with other forms of
commercial transportation on a
free and equal basis, you can understand
their position.
It is their feeling that the public
would be much better served
if all forms of transportation
were put on a truly competitive
basis. Not only would each be
spurred to provide constant improvements
in services and facilities,
but the cost would fall
where it rightly belongs-on users
instead of taxpayers.
[The above pictures and text
are from an advertisement recently
published by the Eastern
Railroad Presidents Conference.
In its original form, the message
was addressed to "trained newsmen"
rather than to railroad
men. -Editor]
The Milwaukee Road Magazine
'1