OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS 

AUSTIN 

Hononblo H. L. Mmhbum 

County Auditor 

lhrrla oounty 

Eouatod, Tour 

Dear Sir: 

, ru&wrtr the opinjeot. lib quote your 

t your opinion in oonDbtriot Engineer of 

t wrote to Mr. Albert 

of Way Agent for Xtmrlr Counta, 

l Att8ahed to thlr letter ~08 b aopy of p 

portion of the nlautes of the state HighW~ Department reodlng &I ret out in the order or the 

Cmirsianerr Court which I vi11 hereafter quote. 
“The Rl&kt of Uay apartment rent the 

letter of the Dlrtrlot Bnglneer to mea together vlth the 00~~ or the ninuter 0r the 

Comnlssion, and X thr~upcn trarmmltted it 

to the bbSbtf88iCWM Court of Ram18 county 

vlth the iollovlng letterr 

“*I l ttaoh a latter from Mr. Albert 

Tovnsend enalorlng a oopy of l minute order 

0f th0 ht0 sightmy caPPi88icn 011 a~10 23, 

1942, designat* lorth Loop Il. S. IIlghway 

gu as a state hlghlmy. This minute should 

be approved W the Gcmmi88loaars Court and 

the order ~corded in its mlnuterr The Court 

thereupan 8hould l uthorfro Hr. Townsend, a8 

Right of Uay Agent, to obtain the necessary 

right of ry- ? payable from the 1941 Bond 

Fund State dght 0r Uay Budget in aaaordanoe 

vlth plans, 8peolflaattons uld 8urv0ys of 

the State Iilghva~ Dspartaemt. @ 

%n Ally 13, 1942, the comml88lcner8 

Court of Harris Countr entered an o&er ia 

its IUmote8, Volume 11, page 528, reading 

as f0110v8 8 ‘9loved by Ccmmlsrloner Tautnnhabn, 

seoonded w Comml8aloner Or&am, duly put ’ 

8nd carried, it Is ordered that the roiioving order of the State Highimp Ccswsl8sio.n, 

designating Iiorth Loop U. 8. Hlghwtq UC. 90 

as a State high-7 be approved: 

“(“In Harris Uounty, it 18 ordered that 

a loop on 0. 8. go, ia the vlolalty of Rou8- 

ton, be and la ho~w deslgrmtti for future 

oonrtruotlon and aalntenanoe p~rp0808, oxtendLng fr o m l o a umo tlo n with th o present 

II. 8. Hi&wa y 90 east o f the Post WC Road 

vort OS Houston, thexioo northnrrt to l oonnootlon vfth U. 8. alghvay 290, thenoe east 

through the north rldo of Houston alon& or 

in the viaialty of 29th Street, Llndor Street 

and 8tonsvall Street, thence to a oonaootfon 

with U, S. Ri&var 90 east of Howtan, this 

, 
62.:? 

Honorable 8. L. Hsshbum, Pago 3 

dobi@atfcah t0 inChdO SUCh OClUlOCtiCZlS a8 

W liOOO88~l7 t0 SOrVO SktO -Ifar v O&St 

of Houston, It being alearly umlomtood that 

thib dobigtlatioll #ha11 XlOt in slyr -P inOhdO rPlJ~OPti9U Oi th0 llOV eXiSti- PCSt 

oak Rca4. 

l hi it 18 fUl’thOS Ol’dOl’Od tbt fibbl't 

%llWd, wt Of w8r &N3lt, b. authorired 

t0 SO@UFO thb nSCO8U~ l’f&t Of V8 

from the 1941 Bond Futld, st4to 

plmbl0 

l t, in l ~OOrbnoO Vfth 

of bray 

ems mdsurv~s of the rt 

hA8 Uld SpOOiiipartmoat. ' 

tato H&hvayDe- 

“Imwdiatol~ theredtor!, tho Right 0r 

ti&y DOpdiROdi Of Ikl’dS tbWlty, a8 th0 4&&3lltS 

of the 8tate Highmy Depertment, proweded to 

w l O~fSfti~ Or tii XWOOS~I7 right Of 

under authority of Artlolv 6674n. Vomon~r 

my8 

hnotatod CL*11 %atutos. Uader th4 field 

not08 and dab 834~pliod by tho Highvay DepartIS& , th0 Pi&it Of V8r l O~til’d -8 Ori&mb 

lr 1 00 f-t, bUt *itOr l POPtiCll Of th. IlOOeSury hid8 h a d b eel n o q ulr o td, he p la nws er e 

vidaned to 150 foot. some of the ocnnootfng 

S'O&~e~hWU&," ~iStW60 formed 13.&S flI 

The who10 projoot till be 

referred to ti ihls lotter as tho ‘Horth 

Loop’. 

‘As an uamplo OS tho pmtloubr probfn ti OI808 vhen thorn V88 UI Uirtw 

roadway, in or&m to oomply with the requbem4BIAtS Of th0 sat0 8f&hmy ~~rtW& it IfaS 

nOOO8~~ to g o t l t b88t 90 fOOt Of k&itimal right of uirr to ulden tho utiting 

ThiS MS tPU0 in th0 C&SO Of Ibw 

x.ellJ V88 origLa4llJ & feet vibe, 

and at t the l’O~Ue8 t of the lilghvay Department, 
,orable & L wabhbura, %3e 4 

en 8dditiOml 40 ied VES first obklaod, 

20 Poet on oithor rid0 of tho ort&lMl roadtiub#equeat1~, tho Right of Uq Deqxwt2% vas Olderod t0 obtakr an rddltlcml 50 

feet, making the total width 150 foot. 

Aotunl airautruotlcn the Efghvay Department cm xally street 8 no t b een b egun, l lwt deal Of the right Ofm~haS 

Pad, and th0 StPOOt b8 bean 

tidonod upon land taken in the name of tho 

Mator 

“In 1941, varliour boDd 188u08 were 

butaifttsd to tho VCtOM Of ~I918 &~IItyr 

tie Of th0 i88UeS SUbittad WS for ~~,oo&oo 

t0 b0 USOd iOr th0 SpOOifiC ~fpO80 Of WQUiPiog Pi&it Of my8 iOr StdO hl&~~S. - 

bond8 VOlW VOtSd kCW%bO th0 iuadr W’tihbh 

to tlao count othervl8e YOM lMufflolent to 

pay for tho 8SICWtS Of SUPOILbiVO Pi&t 

of way required for the cons tructicn of the 

stat0 llf@wa~. t%O bond pl’CCCOding8 SpeOifiCd4 prOVf&d ut ll0 WPt Of thO80 funds 

should ever be upended for any other purpose 

thM tb 8O~ui8itiOZl Of Pi@& Of VagS fCP 

dobigrutod Stat0 hl@Wa~. 

*I hevo qucted tho oorrerpcndence and 

th0 OPdeM l b OV0 iOr th0 pUl”QO80 Of bhovtig 

that thSM -8 PO ~OStiOll in th0 mind Of anJ 

Of tb, OfffOhlS VhO 08iUO in OCIitrOt With the 

Mtter OPiginrllY that the de8igMtfCII by the 

El&m Co%mit##ion of the Hcrth Lcop was final. 

lJ so, oxpeadlturo of bend fund8 frcm the 

2.941 bond l88~0 aculd BOt pO~#lbly haVo bee&! 

MdO iOr th. gtulpO80 Of m@.Il$ fOP thib right 

Of Wcrr, a#, tie88 it did lbOtUal1~ OCli8titUtO 

l St6te hi@.War, th0 oxpeadlturo Of buoh fU&S 

thereon vould ooMtltuto 8 divor8ion, under 

th@ WdhOritJ Of 8uoh #Se8 98 bore, tkU8Xt~ 

-0, VI9 tbfihm, 109 20X. 96, 200 8.w. 374; 

end Blaok, ot al. VS. Streqth, County Jud@, 

246 Sru. 79. !I’%0 prOCOOding8 foa the 188uance 

Of th0 bon& 8~OiffC8ll~ pbd@d this tid 
623 

Sioncrablo It. L. Ua8hbUmr Page 5 

iOr. thtb ~rtiCUhP pucPO8@. It 18 ObViCu8 

t&at-no portion of this fuud oould bo uponded for the aoqul8ltlcn of right of vays 

for County r06d8. 

"'fh.IW 18 Still mUoh Of the right Of 

vmy on the North Loop to bo 8oquirod. Thm 

onl funds wailablo for tho p~rduro of 

SUCi rigat of v8y are the bond funds 8bovo 

IentlanOlb. Tb Commi.881an0r8 Court4ndI 

vore of the opinion tht the ardor of the 

btit0 =#Jhw -8SiOE U&S miffOi.ltt, 

t&M la o~ootlcn vitr l ll of the other 

PrOOOebingS vhloh have beeli #ino hrd, t0 

oonatltute tha Horth Loop a part of the 

stat0 fus;tnr*r SyStM. Hence, the bond hnda 

&ve been 4nd u-0 aov be* used for tho 

purpose of p4ylng for the vldened rl&t of 

v4y and th0 8OQUlSltiOn Of nov right Of vay 

fOF thib stat0 arshvaJ. 

508 such W3tiO3l &Viul? 18 th0 CCUIlty 

ruthorlred to procoed by oandamn8tlon or 

OthOTVi80b 48 th0 4&Sllt Of tb StrtO, t0 bCQUfl'O the 4dditiOMl MOO888r7, Pi&It Of V4y 

for thi.8 projoot aal to pay for it aut of 

tho bondihnd above mentioned? 

"%b880 C&W38tiOll8 hW0 been I’dSOd at this 

SCBOVhat &to d@to booaurro of difffoUltle8 

whhh ha*0 rrlsm p8rtluularly la c0naeation 

vlth Lilly Street, but vhlch vlll bo appll04blO to th0 Xorth LOOP a8 8 VhO~. By WSOlI Of it8 vldemlag urd inClvs#bd tl'aff%O, 

EegaStreOt hb gotten intO I, vary bad oonC&t 

on0 of the Mmbor8 of tho commi88lonOM took the matter up vlth the Resident 

Hnglnoor, and fnfomsd him that it would be 

Il@OO$Sal7 to add t0 this StMOt & ocmldor 

able amount of wterlalr In the opinion of 

the bb41f88iOLLdl'b it Vi11 k llOOO886~ t0 add 

to this street she21 or other paving materiel 

in UOObS Of 1,000 oublo y8rdSr !hO Rd48fd6llt 

Bo&lnet?r 4ddre88od a latter to the thunty Cora- 

~i88fCblOP UldOP date Of Mwch Tr LndfC&ing 
Hanorablo 8, L, W88hburq Page 6 

th4t he 

of thlr 

pcoblerr 

YPS of the opinion that thomeintewnoe 

portion of this State highway vas the 

of Harris County. Hi8 lOthI St4t6hS. 

la tho cuatara of the Hlghvay Ccmlrslcn 

OVOr Such I'+dS ffor M$lt6+bCO' adlr ,- '4ftOl' Wie OOIlStl'WtlCLLI 18 OCblpl~tbd'. 

"I find my8olf umble to 8greo pith the acnoluriOn8 eap~rred by tho Dl8trlot Wgfnoor of 

th0 SktO Hi@IVby CtiSfC#k. 1 M Of th. Opintaa that tho County 18 Upr0881~ prohibitad by 

lav SroP~~ rUrtbal? Uxp~dltureb On 

tho llorth Loop, except the 8oqul8ltlOa of right 

Uo h8vo been prooeedfng with the ao- 

=Kn of the right of v4y la 4ooodanoo 

with t&IO 9Z’CV181CW Of tit:010 667kn, ~WWi%‘S 

htlOt4tOd SktUtOS. b YOU knOW, th0 doCi8iOn8 

OOMtAling thib St8tUtO hVe SSid thst it does 

nothing POM thaIi t0 euthoribo the OOW!ltyb 48 

tho rgent of the Stateb to rcquirv the newsSal7 right of vay. hl thib COlUlOOtiOli, the 

Supmo C-t, in the oabe of Robbins VS. Limestt$unn;; 114 Toxr 345, 268 5.U. 915, 918, 

"'The OSt8blish@ent of public bighvaJ8 being primarily a ftmotlan of government belonglng to the state, tho right to establish them 

~StdOS 9rhMrilJ in th0 10~18b~tUl!O, 4nd in 

the absence Of ooo8titutiOMl XW8triCtiOMa the 

logirleture say Uorclre that right dlroot or 

delegate it to a political subdlvirlcn of the 

8t4teb or t0 SuCh Other 4 

fty, $MOF41 OI lOC4l in f 

4ag OF kutX%menbldetormlno. 

tb 8C090b 4; ;t 77 

t?l# UOPC18O Of this r&a I 

politloal rubdivlsl0n of the state. or by focal 

OffiOeM, ib founded UPCII~t8tUtCl”y 4UthCPit~ 

Ztmreror. ti0 1egiShtUM PJ UW’CiSe 908- 

sorslcn of public mod8 yrd ocntrcl ovoc them, 

by and throu@i 8uOh ag~Oie8 88 it may designate.' 

"It 18 VOll SOttlOd th4t thb ShtUteS @I'S 

~XO~US~VO CtXitrOl ovsr all Skto hlghvayb to the 

at4t0 Highvtay Com.l8sion. Formerly, the ocunties 
Hanorsblo Ii, L. %bhbunr, age 7 

VOM Nthorfsed to aid in the OoMtruotfon and 

lb4fJhZUXlOO #Of Uiy SeOtiCn Or SOOtfCM Of 4 

maordemfsed, gravrlod or paved x-Cad or turnpike 

in raid county conatltutfng a p4rt of the State 

Hf@lWA~ 87StaE 4tld t0 Ntel' fnt0 CCIItFaOtS Or 

ogrma6nt8 vlth tho state Hi Depmtment 

fer that 9ua-9080.~ Artlalo 740, R.S. 1925. 

V&S ~ZWSSly MpeObd w Act8 

82atUI’O 3d C.S.b 9460 151 Umptar 

13, seot:Cn 3. lot Sstibfied Vith 4 WF6 repeal of tho l uthorlty thoretoforo given to the 

ootmty to upad funds for malnteaukoo of 8t4to 

hf@V4 

I@ 

b the lOgi8l4tWO b7 StatUh OX9FO8817 

prohlb ted such ~oXkd:tW%8, Other thM for 

l’&ht Of V878. Art1010 6674q-4, Vemon@s Ann. 

st.r I'MdO 48 fOlhVS8 

"~Allfurtherlapr~vmentof raid Stat0 

Elghimy 8yStWl Sh811 b. ESde under th0 UCblsive 

ulddlreot oantrClof the shtomghva7Departant ad vlth 8pproprlatlcns mado by the 

l~~f8~tU.M Cut Of m st4tO Hi&Vlty htld. 

hl’VO78, p&II8 and 8pOf3ffiC4tiCM and ~8tfMte8 

for Jl ihrther oonstrw~lolr aad fmprOVerPsnt 

Of atid byStOW ShlB~ bb E.&O, ~Mp6U'Sd Nd 

g&r by the State Hlghv4y DepPrtaent. 5 

fbIPmeV~SIl~: C3f Mid SFSt~~~h51~ 

nvldo vlth th d vlthlmy Y 

nibhOd by the UOlUktit38 OXOOPt tn0 WZQUif5ftiOll 

of right of ways vhich may be fumishod bs the 

tlObs tholr ~t~diV18101~ or defioed awed 

trictbr < th%S #h&1 in Ii0 WiSO offOOt 

the curryin& Cutofanyblndlng oCntMot8nov 

ufatlng between tha State Hlghv47 Depsrtment 

and the Caml88loner8 Ucurt of any oounty, for 

suoh oountyb or for any doffned rod dirtriot~ 

Ih the development Of the SyStU Of State b-&bvaym and the maintenanoo thorocf~ the State 

Highvay ~SSiOn ah411 fmnn fWAd8 ev8ilablo 

to the StstoXfghvay Departant, prCvide: 

"(8) For the effl~l~~ 

all hif!ShV4~8 oCmprf8~ h 
626 

~cnorablo Ii, L. UaShbW% Pe&e 8 

"(b) FOP the OC~8tNCtiOl3, in 000901'@- 

tlcn iith the Federal government to tho extent 

of Federal aid to the State, Of highveyb of 

durable type Of the greateat pub110 lleOe88ity. 

"l(o) For tho oonstruotlon of hlghvaya, 

porfooting and Utw l corrol8ted SyStWi 

ci-&S~ hfghva78, Me9endontly frolpQtit8 

“It 3.8 to bo noted that rubd.lvlslcn (8) 

l b o vo .q uto4 ktel.tla a ocnnootlon , with the 

SCIltUiC~ 9FOOCdb43 itb WkOS it th0 ~FOSS 

SktutOX'y duty Of th0 St4tO Highvcr7 CCilfMiS- 

#ia t0 mint8iB bU. 8t8te a&hvapS. ThO 

other 8entmoo preceding thrrtulcloh I have 

undorsoored above prohibit8 the C-X9@1tUM 

Oi mOM7 by the COUlltiO8 Oli buoh aigaoa~b. 

Th# wo Of thS void ‘inpZ’CV8lB~t8 ’ in the 

first undo~oo~ rentonoo oamot bo mlrccnStNod bocaU80 the Stl4tUtO (&PtiClo 66744) 

defin48 it t0 moau' 

“‘%iO tom %j?lWV(311tXlt” #ha11 fWht%S 

00n8tnrot10nb reccn8tlluotion or maintenuioe, 

OP 94rtiP1 OCUl8tNOtiCXh, lvCOn8tNOtiCn Or 

mslntwoo and the making of all neoessrry 

PbUAS 4nd rurVryr 9relln&wy thereto.' 

'It 18 p&fIl to me, therefolub that the 

StstUtO CX~2’088l~ prOhibit8 the cOWit frVrer 

upenlllng county funds upcnMlnten4noo ofa 

state hlghv*y * If there aM any other statUtSS 0~ deCi8fC2l8 VhfCh vould 4ffOOt thib OOnOlUSiOJl, thOy h&V0 08049Cd PO* IS 4 ViOV Of 

the80 StatUtOS OCrlWOtt 

"Oonrlderablo sums of nanC7 8~ now befxq expended upon thlb highwe upon the theory 

th8t it 18 4 SktO hi&Way. hb above St4tSd, 

thO86 tuadb 8~ the 92’004CbS Of bond funds 

vhich cannot be CthWVf8O oxpendedr If the 

Ccmmls8loneM Court and I 8~ rib teken In our 

Vfelib that t.kU OX'd6P Of the xi(5hW7 h?lUd8t41CZl 
Honorable Ii. L. Washburn, Page 9 

and We rubsequant aotlona In requesting the 

aoqulrltl0n of the additional right Of wy8, 

actually nude thlr Ho&h Loop a State h&hwaP, 

then of oouroe the expenditure of any further 

funds from the prooeeddr of the bond lsrue for 

the purohare of right of var a8 for a State 

h$h~~ vould be unlawful. 

8 a part of the State El way SprtsPa, 

0~ U+e other hand, 

it 8ew to me that the CouatP 8 expro88lP 

prohlblted by the 8tatutO f~~~e~~mninnaaj 

funds in miatalalng any portian of it, Ple48e 

give me your opinion upon the80 matter*, In 

umwer to the que*tlonn above rpeolfloall~ propOUIbdOd.* 

Artlole 667&n, Revlmd 01~11 Statutes of 1925 as 

amended by Aottr 1933, 43x-d Legislature, Chsptec 2O'i'j Act8 

1935, Uth &gl8latwe, Chapter 199, olted but not quoted 

l bQve reads in part a* followra 

Vhenever, in the JudepPant of the State 

Highmar Caairrlon, the u8e or roqul6itlon 

of any land for road, right of vay purpo8e(ID 

timber, earth, 8tone, gravel or other material, neoeera~ or oonvenlent to say road to be 

oomtluoted, reoonstruoted, maIntained, ridened, 

rtralghtened or lengthened, orlaadnotexoeedlng one hundred (1110) feet fn vldth for 

stream bed diversion in oonneotlan tith the 

100atlng, xwlo0ating or oonstruotlon or a* 

Y by t 

Crairrian, the same may be aoqulred by purohare or oondemaatlon by the County Coml8alonera Oourt. Provldod tbat the County In whioh 

the State BighvaP f8 100ated 58y pay ior same 

outofthe Cauaty RoadandBrlQe Fund, orq 

available oounty funds. 

"ASP Caml88lrmem Court ir hereby authorlxed to 8eoure W puroharo or by ocadanatlon 

on behalf of the State of Texas, SnJr nev or 

t of vay or land not exoeedlng one 

feet in vldth for #beam bed 
Bonoreble Ii. L. U88hbUm Page 10 

diversion in oonneotlon vlth the locating, r8- 

lociting or oonstruotion of a desigaated State 

HlghWsy, or land or larids for nreterlal or borMY pits, to be wed in the oonstruotion, reoonstruotltm, or maintaaanoe of State Highways 

and to pay forth. 8-e Out Of the bUILty Road 

anil Bridge Fund, or outofany rpeolalroad 

fuud8 or my available oounty fundr. The State 

Highway Coa1ml8slon8h6ll be oharged vith the 

duty of fUl’Sd8ning to the county ccausl881on0r8 

Court the PhtS or field notes of ruoh right Of 

vay o? 18nd 8nd the de8otiptlon of suoh materiel8 

as may be requlrud, after vhloh the Commia~lonerrr 

Court may, and is hereby authorllced to pUMhs8S 

or oondcan the mme, with title to the State of 

Toxar, in l ooomlanoe with 8UOh field nOtO8. Provided that in the event of oondmnatlonby the 

t%UlltJ the PFO-dU’O Sbd1b th0 88816 (IS ththt 

set out In 'l'ltle 52, Articrles 32fi4 to 3271, inoh8iY0, Revised civil Statute8 Of TOXBS, Of 

1925. Provided that if the County Commlssloner8 

Court of any Count in uhloh suoh right of vay 

la, in the ~udgmen tof the Shte glghuay Comais- 

*Ian, ne+3essary for the oonstruatlon of 6 part 

Of a designated State Highvay rhd1 fail or refuse to seoure by purohare or by oond8uwition 

for or on behalf of the State of Texas, ruoh 

right of vay or pert thereof, lmmdiately and 

as speedily as poesible, under said Title 52, 

Artloles 3264 to 3271, ~olusiv8, Revised Civil 

Statutes of Texas, of 1925, after being served 

vlth a oopy of an odder of the State Hlghvay 

Comml8slon ldentlfylng by field notes, the p8r.t 

0r the Silghvay neoe88ary for the oonstruotlon 

of SuOh designated State zlighrpsp and requesting 

8u8h County Com8lsslonerr Court to seauve same, 

thSn and in such eV83it Md Vithin t9ll (10) drr78 

after the service of 8uoh notioe, raid State 

Highway Comml88lon shall dlreot the Attome 

Oeaeral of Texas, to irutltute oondemmatlon prooeedlngs in the name of the State of Tuxas, for 

the purpose of ssauring SUOh right of wag. 'Ilhe 

right of 8mlnent damin to oondemn 8ny part of 

a right of wag for a atate designated hlghvay, 
Bononable II. L. kehbum, Page 11 

undelr the oondltlon8 hereln set Out is hereby 

oonferred on the State HI&way Cuaalrrlon and 

the jurirdiotlaa for the exerolse of such right 

is hereby oanferred on the County Court of 

Travis County. . . . ." 

The OOlU'tS of %xas h4VO OOnSiStently held that 

Artlole 6674n, supra, authorleer the oaal88loner8~ oourt 

a8 agent for the State to pumhase or oondem land for 

right-of-way purposes whenever in the of the State 

Hinhvu Oclri88im the MO Ol' 4OOUiSit dD Of suoh &Ad 18 

aeZe*iiry o;* ooavenlent in 00nGtl~ vith 

loo&$ or& t$ni"f& de!e;Ky 

~018 m tithin t&IO diSOZ'OtiOI& Ofs.thb x 

Hllbarger oounty 081 Hall, 55 S.W. 

Robbias VS: LiaertOne hunty, 268 3.V. 915; %athman VS. 

EiiYP%d) 255; Watt VI 

, 12 8.U. (26) 150; hH'SOA VS. m1hS COtUlty, 

Studer 22 S.W. (26) 709 and 

San P&010 cOunty VSe M&011, & 3.w. (26) 295. 

Aooordfngly, in anaver to your first quo8 tlon, ve 

advise that the expendltwe of the oounty funds desorlbed in 

your letter for State Hlghm9 right-of-way purposes was and 

is authorized. 

Your seaond question presents a problem more dlffloult of proper detemiastlon. It appear8 to us thist the 

pcrl'4Illmt point OOlltl'O~~ the BE&J iSSIlO 18 PI $0 VhOXi 4 

route or rend beoomes a designated Stat0 Hl&n1a9 or a part 

of the 'State Highway Syrtfnu . To arrive at the ccmoluslon 

heroin reaohed we he00 made a diligent Study Of the hiStOry 

of the leglshtion that emmemtss the rights, duties and 

power8 of the Highway CCmWil8~4lOn and the oommls810ner8t oourtr 

together vith an exhau8tivO re4roh of oourt deoiSiOn8 Oon- 

*truing the various statutea. 

Prior to the adoption of Artlole 6674n, 8x4~8, as 

emended, the v4rlous oountler loeat& ooprtmoted ukd Mlntained In vhole or in oonjuaotlaa with the Highvay Dopartmeat, the pub110 road8 within their respeotloe boundarler. 

In many lmtanoer by oontraot with the mghwby Department 

the oouotler provided funds for all pr@likinary, lntemedlate and omaplete expenditure8 neoesra~ ~JI the seleotion Of 
Iianorable Ii. L, Washburn, Page 12 

4 route end the oon8truotioaa of a road for highway purposes, 

frequently sharing in the expense of aal.ntenance thereof 

after auoh mad had been aooepted as a Stat4 Highway. 

The State Hlghvay Department, pursuant to its 

oreatlon end delegated authorities, over a period of yaars, 

'exerol8ed its powers 4nd funotlon8 through the several 

OUUliti88 &lid defimd l'oad diStriOt8 Of the Stat0 as it8 

4genOi48 for 84id plU'pO808, 4Zid 14tbl' l'e8mSbd full 4nd 

role adminirtretlaa, OOntrOl of, and jurl8dlotlOn OveF, 

the l49lng out, 4rt4bli8hmuit, oOn8truotlan4ndm4lnteaanoe of ell pub110 ro4dr vhioh were, or night beome, 

a part of the system Of darigneted State Highvaye". 

Subsequently, In 1932, Aots of the 42&Leglslature 3rd Cfslled S48aio4, Chapter 13 thereof (Artlole 

6674&14), the "State JiSSuPrptiOn Of Highway &nds" Aot 

vao rdoptad, re4ding In part fraa the oaptlon thereof as 

follov8r 

"Deolaring 4 State pollo9 with refertolce 

t0 the OOllStIQCtiOll md leaiat~O% Of 4 s98tePl 

of Sktehlghvays froma sour08 of inoaue other 

than ad valorarn t4XesI providing for th4 aontrO1, 

OOn8tZ'UOtiOn 4rid noint4lUnaO Of 4 8ySterP Of 

State hi&ways ot rt4te upense, and p4titting the oountier to fwnlah r&$&s-of-vayr' 

The State Hlghv4y Carmafesion is authorised under 

Articles @in, V.A.C.S. '"to take over and =lnt&.n the varlous Skte HighPayS in T8Xas, and the OOuL0iie8 through vhloh 

said highways peas rha~ be free from asky Oost, BX enso or 

SUp4l’ViSiOl.i Of suoh hi&VaySr” Aed in &'tiOla 667 Qeflnition Of TbnaB", it 18 Said% 

L, 

“%%O tOr9 ‘highwrJ’ 48 USOd in thiE 4Ot 

shall .lnolude any pub110 road or thQrOughfa~e 

or sectiOn thereof 4nd any bridge, oulvert or 

other no00884 rtruotuxw l ppertalnlng thepatar Fhe tom- r* rovePraot9 ah411 lnolude 00nStl’UOtiOIA, l'OOOIi8tZUOtiCSl or a&.ntenanoe, or 

partial o0n8truotlon, reoonstruatloa or meintemnoe and the maMng of 4l.l neoesa4 

4lld Stll'VWS OrSlti~ thOret0." ( 

OUZ-8) 
Honomble II. L. UaShbUXR Page 13 

Artlale 66740 entitled *Appropriation4 from Hlghmy Pund” read8 aa foll0v4r 

“All moneys now or h6mafter de~ositcnl in 

the St4te Treasury to oredlt of the State Highway Ipund', lnolud 

9 

all ?ederr2 41d ooaeyyr deposited to ths 0md t Of Said fW& under the 

tens8 of the Federal Highway Aot and 411 oouaty 

4id moneys deposited to the aPedi of raid fund 

under the tens8 of this Aot shall be subjeot to 

Ihe StateHlghwayDepartment, (Imertadbyoomt 

iler from Acts 1925, 39th Log,, oh. 186, pI 

57, a 5.). (zalpb4*i* ours) 

hollow the prOV181OILS for the approprlatlom 

fma the Btate Highway Fund the Lsgl8latum pr0vlded, Y.n 

Artlole 6674h, V.A.G.S., th4t *411 OWt.%OtS pl’O908ttd t0 

be made by the Stetr Highway Depsrtment for the Wmovament 

ot 4ny hlghv49 oanstltutlng 4 part of the Stat4 Wshv4~ 

Sxvtsll or for materbls to b4 used la th4 oonstruotlon or 

maintananoe thercrof shall be rubmlttsd to oomp4tltive bids.” 

Chapter 324, 48th Lsglsbturo, 1943 (Article 

6674q-l-14) oonrtltutee the last p4II84@l of the Reed Bond 

A48WIpti04 Aot. The intervening Legislatures from 1932 to 

1943 emoted measures slmaibr, with slight modlfiostiansr 

For the purpose OS thla opialon suoh Aot till hmeafter 

be ivferred to 48 APtlole 6674q. 

Art1010 6674q-1 exprease4 the poll09 of the State 

4ad we quote therefroza as follov8r 

A It is further deOl4md to b4 the 

polloy ~f*&e*rt4te to take over, acquire, i.wro&484, 4nd reta*a the interest cad equltlee of 

the various oountles *ad defined road distrlots 

in 4nd to the highways, not prevlowly taken 

over, aoqulred, and pu~~haaed and oonstltutlng 

on January 2, 1939, a port of the rystem of 

desiglmted &tat0 flighvays, 4nd to acquire and 

purchase the lntereat and equities of the v4rlOUS 00UtieS and defined reed diStI’iOt8 in aad 

to the roads not oonstltutlng a p4rt of the 
632 

Honorable X. L. Washburn, Page 14 

system of designated State Xigbvayr as of 

January 2, 1939, and under the prov~8io~ of 

this Aot to aoquire such interest and equities 

la ruoh roads hereafter to be oonstruoted with 

PlonOT fb.dShOa bY fib 

84id ooulaties and dir&iota 

provide for the 40QUi8itiOnL eStabli8bEWIt, 

oon8truotiOn, OXtOXiSiOIi sad development of the 

SyStO5 Of designated skt0 Kighw498 Of %bX46, 

rraa acme sour00 of lnocane other than the 

the mqnwr derived fpm ad valoren taxes, 

. l . , 

Th4 Legislature, as ladloated in Artlole 6704, V.A. 

C.S., reStriOted the 8USiaag width t0 lfhiah the OOUilE.t881O~er8' 

oourt 5349 l rt4blish a oounty road to 100 feet. 

the Aot Ve find 48 ?OllOVSJ 

Readlug from 

"Art. 6704. 

%he ocrmniesloaem' oourt shall ol.4sslfy 

4U publio road8 in their OOUZltiOS 48 fO~lOV8~ 

First ala83 roads 823411 be olear of 

411 o2Lotlon8, end not less t&in forty (40) 

feet no: more than one hundred (100) feet vldeJ 

. . . . 

Con8lderlng the above olted statutes together, we 

flndt 

1. That the State Highway Departnent baa 

role end exclusive juriadlotlon over "State RlghV498", and the “State I&#~t49 3ystOd, loaabtiag, 

oo&ruating and maintaining suoh out of Stete 

l 

the Ate, purahaee or oondemu l4nd for State 

tht the ooWltie8 IIl49, 48 agent8 for 

Hlghln39 purposes. 

3. That whoa a publia road beaomes a pact 

of the “State Highway System* or 4 designated 
Honomble B. L Wshburn, Page 15 

"State Highway" the counties Oarmot render 

further aid or.expend funds thereon. 

4. 'Phst the St4te tIighv69 Depart?Qent 

ahall reaelve Ompetltlve bids for the oonrtruotl0n or reconstruction of en9 part of the 

8tt3te fiighws9 SySte&h 

That 4 aouuty road may not be eata& 

lirh~*eto. 4t a vldth greater th4a the m4slaua of 100 feet. 

The pertlneat f4ot8, nece884ly to the &etemlnatlon 

Of MS ~08tiOl.I B&9 be St4ted 48 fOllOv8: 

1. liarrls County, by bond eleotloo, 

oreated 4 fund to be used for the partloular 

purpose of puroh48lng rights-of-v4y for State 

Bighwa98 in &X'.t't COWt9. 

2. The at4t4 Higbw49 ccmml88104, b9 

order dated June 23, 1942, derlgmsted the road 

b qu45tlon “for future oon8truotlo~ and nmlntewnoe purp08e8" reoltlng further ln rsld order, *th.i8 dOsi~tiOI& to inolude SUOh OOnaeOtlon8.a8 4re neoeee4ry to serve Hlghvay 73 e44t 

Of gOU8tOA". 

31 Tie oommie8loner8~ OOurt,pureuant to 

rolioitatiau by the Highway cOm~~ission, prooe4ded to aoqulre the neoersary 150 foot rlghtof-v4y aotlng as 4gentr of the State for State 

Bi&lW39 pUIcpO808. 

4. Kelly Street, 4n integral part of the 

releated mute, h4v%ng been vld4ned to 150 feet 

is inn-urgent need of repair to 4ooon48od4te the 

eXi8ting tI'affi0 th4Z'Wn. 

E4ving oonsldered the relative rt4tuter 4nd reviewed 

the foata, we mwt now reek to deteaine the intention of the 

Legislature a8 it appear8 la the written portions or the law 

and the implied pr0vl8lo~ if such 4re found to uirt. Before attmpting to give our oonoluslon8, we think it pertinent 

her8 to briefly state the question we seek to ansverc 
Honomble H, L. Washburn, Page 16 

- Do48 kelly Street beaame a part of the State 

Highway System or become a State Highway, within 

the purview of the numerous StatUte8, by virtue 

of th4 order of the Highway Comaiauion dated 

June 23, 1942$ and the rubsequent acts of the 

omslrrlonem oowt purruant thereto? 

Artiole 6673, 8~9~~ defines, asiong other thlng8, 

improvment to lnolude “and te akk5ng pi all plan8 and 81mvey8 r4Umlnary thereto. ” 

that the -Stat4 Hi&way Fuud p:2? M74 

,e, 8U9IW, providr 

.l be U84d ior. the 8p4oiflO 

by the State I.i.iuhvar Dew 

purpose 05 the &mo’swe~do~nai;d fsyatara of Stata Highways 

* til Oolltl’aOt8 9PO9OSed 

tb be made by tiie &ate-Highway Department for tlse imorovesent OS any highvay oonetituting a 

=:tz7ih; G,i.;%fl be 

rt of th4 State 

submit& to competitive %. 

‘fhe 48th hgialature in Chaptell 324, eupra, deolared it the pollay of the State to take over the burden 

of the State Highwar System and to rei.mburSe the respsative 

counties for moneys heretofore exp4nded on suah ryatemj to 

provide for the aaquisitioii, e8tablfshment, 

OtO. Of 8uoh fIVXS fWd8 Other than 

oonstruation, 

tyj sxpre88ed not only tba 

~8tasl She11 be made Out Of 

fwther to 8ay that no furt 

shall be made vith oounty money, exaept the aaqufeition of 

rights-OS-vay. 

Th4 right of eminent domain to aondean any part 

of an 1.50 foot right-of-way for a State designated hlghva 

rests exelu8ively on the Highway &Ul&.881O~r Artiole 667 % n, 

8UpI'1&j Robbin VII. Lime8ton4 kunty, 8U9Pr; Wilber&w Cbunty 

V’). &xl, 8U9I’&j Watt V8* Studer, 8U9lVd; IVeZ”Wtl V8* -1liiS 

County, supraj and Angler v8. Balser, infns, 

Authority of the oormnlSSioner8@ oourt to aandemn 

land for OOunty road 9UmO8e8 he8 b4en OOn8tl’Wd to LiPit 

its takw o? a right-of-uay to a maxlm~m width of 100 feet 

a8 provided in Artiole 6704, 8~91%. 

279 S.W. 47!3. 

Bryan ~8. XcKinney, 
iionorable Ii. L. Ua8hburn, Page 17 

Our 8eamh Ma roverled a vast aumbes of court 

d8OishR~ deali;rr& with th4 right8 and power8 of the Stat4 

u@2V6J biiSILiS81al and the OCUWLt88iCRePO' OoWt in OOOdeauri~ Und fnr iiighwy p~~po84s, luoludlq mung iuvolvlag the Queetion 0s liability for dana% Su8talA4d dwj.ng 

the lqiqout, oolMtructioR aRd maint4Mnoe 0r 8&l high- 

-Y* AVOW deolrion OOMi8t%ntly hold8 that Frau the in8taZAt Of th4 r416OtiM Of l rout4 end th. d48i(gnatiCd3 of 

rwh to be a part oi the SWte lU@m18y System, tihu8 rut&r- 

&ail%& th4 00li&88100e~8~ CauPt to grooeed m&m Artl0J.e 

6674~. rqwa, that t& 8014 and •M~UIS~V~ jwmlfotitnt 0r 

8U4h DOUt4 ?48t8 iI% th# St8tO Eigh#J D4pPfunt. IlI EB?~Q~ 

iJUtaMe8 the POUte ill fJUe8tia -8 merely a ai8hd 8UX’veJed 

8tPip *OCOS8 fleldr, f’U%M or portkW$s ulth taa road improvewurtj another rltustlon found a hou8o and iarm impwweaentr 

88Wblldred Vithhl the right-Of-W&RLJ boua&siea of the 8taked 

aew loow&xl or 120ut4. IR every riagle 4484 the court held 

tMt 8uoh location, route or plan oonatltuted ‘a part of the 

3tate Iilghwy 3yatea and uas det%i&iWiad fw state nlighway 

pUFs4848. Watt VW 3tud4r, 8ltpMj Shelby Oount 

48 9. V. (2d) 761~ Fletcher v. Xln$, 79 9. U. I 

v* ~ldwell, 

ad)9801 U48el 

vm Real, 49 3. Y. (2d) 4751 he to State, ?7 b. U. (2d) 606. 

m the oboe 0r San patri4ia count7 VI* bxv411, 

SU&@4, th4 Etl&hWJ CollP18UiOR 84144tOd 8 p,oposed POUt8 a8 

fiighW8~ Ho. 9 through th4 lamls 0r su&h48a I&r&e aad Horn. 

T&I &Nlld88iOtHW8' Oowt proooeded to ilGquir0 the ZWOWwiry land and by agreed Judgment obtained the property of ap- 

@leer. Tim lugbay Colnri88foa ptiw to th4 o-ement 

ot ooastruotien over ruch route l l4Ot4d to shrugs ruoh d48ip 

mtl.ea and 8818et4d oa rntirrsl~ dlffersnt 006~ Appelleea 

rought and obtained aa 1aJuuotlon in the dlrtriclt CouFt Femam4g aaid 0oroni88h1mr8* 009tFt rP0a abmdoning th0 

route fiP8t de8igDated aad fiTom &U?OOUrW& th@ right-of--Y 

OV8F the n4rly deri@nLted rOWi around the ]sndr Of XW&-, 

ran4 aad Horae 

Th4 oOWt Or ciVi1 App6i8lS u ~8V8~~ing the &dP 

meat dl88olVed th@ injunotioa OlId raid in part a8 f411O!f8l 

“It 18 apparent iron the bill on which th8 

Wit W8 @‘Wtod that hi&may 80. 9 i8 0 pFOpl’- 

17 desigllatcd ‘St&i8 Highuay’ OVOP Which tbs 
nonoisble B. L. WashbUm, m&8 1.B 

hi&may deprtaent he4 oontrol, and mat the 

ooult~ conBll88lon4Po’ court i8 aotiag for aad 

in behgu and 4mder the c0ntr0i 0f that agpertnent in ~MOUP~~ the M.&t of w for MAid 

hlghWy, a8 provided In art iolo 6% 

‘I 

4x1, a8 amond8d by the Forty-Plrst h&8latwe AOt8 1930, 

hat lag., 5th C.3., pa 243, 0. 79, ) 1 (Vernm’8 &I& oh. St. et. 667$0). It rOliOVS, 

thep4rofe, and 18 appr4at boa the petItlo 

below, that the power of d48l~tlIq the route 

0r hi&q Eo. 9, mith reierenoe to the land8 

Or &~3h48, u&%4, 8Rd ~~~, F48t8 in the highwy deprtaent, and aot ia the oonmirrionerr ’ 

oowt, and ttat the rtate hlgbway oon8uleeIonor8 crp8 woersary pmtieo to any lltigiatiolr irrr8Oting t& 0X W 4 P Oi80 Or th ap ot V4 ~0 . . l R 

Yleilar fwtr axloted In the cass 0r Bisairn, et al. 

vs. Bean, et al., rugu-3, aad in other8 too numer3u8 to oft4 

here. 

IO i4igI4r V8. Balrer, 8upm, th4 OWM51SSSIfXW'8' 

court ua8 attemptipg to oaaderwl a right-or-uay @titer in 

vfdth than 100 f88t. Appellmt 8oqht to 4aJoIa aueh a8 

i118&@1 b4CU84 ViOutiV8 Or 8UbdiVfSiQIi 1 Or ibtfOl8 6704, 

Revlsed StatUt48 oi 1925 a8 amcrnded by ti%ptsr 1.97, pore- 

(;ira@~ 1, AOt8 1929, (Article 6704, V.A.C.S.). ‘The Auetin 

Court of cIvilhp~lls held that the co~nW3sio~s2r8~ aoUrt 

acted a8 8$4llt8 for the State UpOn solicitati3a by tis St*te 

iiigkvsay COES&UJ~O~J that the hl&@y to b4 construeted Wro8.v 

appgllant*o land had bssa dulg deel6gaatad 88 a 3tite SighWY aad th4t 8U4h takil3& fo? Ytst8 RI&@y puYgO%tis lfa8 not 

VioWtiVe of 8UOh&tIOl4. ofttig &O%!n v8* HO-y, s'@-* 

mirierly ~4 viah to call to y00ur attantioa other 

point8 relating to the rtatut48 involved her4 UpQn vhI& th4 

Cowt8 of Texas haV8 pZaoed their 0onstruotlone 
COAs8t?UOtioA Of &AY hart 0r route ET BiQhwar DapsrtJEent rak%o th% state v 

port7 beoause ruch oocut:~. .~~ 

sY5tem. ctty or Wlabtta lwla T 

-- 

Lp,Si,:. (26) 736~ Ceruouoh VI* ColorWo Couatjr, 18 3. W. 

l 

--t%l7 VheA 5Wh route ia lsid out or @DA8tru8tiM 18 8tarted thtl OOS?Qli55i~A%P5' %O(upt &$ ASJ fur&- 

or WV-, fW 5MAtJ puFpOSe5, in aonneation twevitb. NilbuqpP Count7 VII. aal, 5upr8. 

miag; umble to rind authority colirlioting vith 

th% ~bOV% df%dSiOM, Ye ~Mclude that b deaig&%ted St&t* 

JUhwv w a S9Ut Or th% SWtO Ji.QbWS~ 3gsten -Mot be 

UAMWW& b7 4%8rena aa mob but that the statutes express17 aolrstltute, %Mb7: lav determine, vhea maoh mute 01~ b08d 

.beOQSi65 * d%sigPated JSrt Or the 37steni. Tha H&@&y CQW 

mireion has 5zolu8iv5 jurirdioti0n in the 56le5tim 0r 5~5.33 

route or iwad aa vi11 aonatitute such System, but Lmu&&atel7 

upon its exsraire 0r ruoh di5oretLoo and the entering 0r 

ita order bslapl6rtlng to the aamnLss~o~~8~ oourt the authorit7 to aoquiP5 th% Aoc%558Py land and such court proce%d5 

Woordiqly, rwh routs or cad bacstea dul7 designated. 

We ther%foi?e, advIa% t&t in our opinion Kelly 

Street caald Aot ematftut% % dosigWtad Stat5 Hi&@pvcLy 08 

IL prt orths 3tate El the raaotiate be 

& oount7 road. Aaoard ctsmnot pa7 r0r 

the mlntewmoe OP irngroVe5WAt of the rcled 98 such would 

oonstituto ma unauthorized undertaking and the lllte~l spend- 

~ng 0f c0m7 rends. 
Bonorable iI. I.. Waehbura, page 20 

Ye vieh to thank you for the ercelL5at lettsr 

vhloh wag vary helpful aad hope tmt we b%ve eatlsiactorlly onawcred the questLoAn pWseAt%& 

Yours very truly 

ATTOHHEY OEHE#AL OF TaxAS 

i