Courier Archives

What the Census May Show

In April we will all have to stand up and be counted. It is then that Uncle Sam will take an official count of his sons and daughters. The last census was taken mid-winter and the county was more or less deserted. The result in Putnam County showed a decrease in population. Only 12,500 was credited to us.

Since then we have gone ahead in prosperity. So much so that we confidently expect the coming census to show a substantial increase of population. Especially so if the sojourners in the city and in the southland will have returned in time to be counted here.

The census may show, however, in its farming industry. Many farms have been sold for country estates. While the value of the land at the same time shows a decrease in their products. And, too, so much acreage has been acquired for development. If continued at the same scale for a few years we may have a regular “Florida boom” here in Putnam County.

We hope not to suffer such a collapse as did real estate in that state. We expect a growth, desire it, building roads for it and expect to properly control it along desirable lines by the zoning of our towns. Already several towns are taking steps to do so.

The Gasoline Tax

The 57 Counties of New York State outside of greater New York City will receive $1,400,983.13 as their share of the motor fuel tax in the latest distribution of moneys collected under that tax. In addition to the amount given the counties, there was distributed to the state the sum of $1,545,056.12 and to New York City $305, 245..78 for a total of $3,296,285.03. Putnam received $8,367.40 in this latest distribution and a total to date of $49,636.62 for the first nine months of the new law. There are but three counties in the state with smaller mileage of unimproved state and county roads than Putnam.

The sum sent counties and New York City represents 25 per cent of the tax collected during the three months ending December 31, 1929, while the amount for the state is 75 per cent of the money taken in during the month of December. Distribution of the motor fuel tax moneys is made on the basis of the mileage of highways in each county that are not part of the state and county system.

There have been three distributions of motor fuel tax moneys to the counties. The first was at the rate of #.93 a mile and totaled $277,722.15; the second was at the rate of $22.25 a mile and is totaled $1,570,876..26. Thus the total distribution to date has been at the rate of $45.68 a mile, a material help in the building of the secondary or lateral system of highways which the motor fuel tax was designed to aid as part of the agricultural relief program.