San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-04-03
OF COUNTRY ROADS.

L. A. w.-Ncw Legislative Measures.
The question of improving the system
of the country roads Of America is now
being discussed by legislators, by men Of
science, by economists and others having
practical interest in public means for
transportation. Some states have re-
Gently taken action in this matter, and
others are considA,ing measures with a
view to securing the quickest and best
results. Pennsylvania has state COM
mission at work, inquiring about the
needs of the state and the best methods
of reform. New Jersey adopted new
road law last year, providing for a uni
formity in highway building under a
state engineer.
In Tennessee the Vanderbilt university
instructs free of charge one person from
each county to supervise roads. During
the present sessions Of the legislatures
bills will be presented in New York,
Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and Rhode
Island, and it is probable that some ac-
ton will be taken in New Jersey and
Massachusetts,. A general awaking of
interest throughout the country has been
brought about largely by the efforts of
the League of American Wheelmen, a
national association of cyclists. Last
year the league issued little work enti-
tied "Improvemento of Highways" (which
discusses practical methods of making
and repairing roads and gives the draft
may be the basis for new legislation in
the several states of the Union. The rec
concentrations for new roads treat prin-
cipally of some form of macadam, either
for the whole road or for such portions
of it as lie in places that cannot be thor
oughly drained.
The bill which the wheelmen suggest
in order to secure uniformity in the vari-
GUS states is substantially this:
Section / constitutes a highway dis
trict in each township not under munich
pal control. Section 2 provides for an
overseer for each highway district. Sec
tions 3, and 8 define the duties of the
overseer, who shall locate and open all
public roads, and improve and repair
the same. Sections 6 and Z relate to
sign boards. Sections and relate to
the award of contracts. Section 10 pro-
vides for tax levy, and section l6 re-
lates to the method of apportioning and
levying the same. Sections 10, 90 and
81 place all toll roads and bridges under
80 Lr 81
power to compel the owners to repair
them and also to close them whenever
their condition is not according to the
charter or laws governing them.
In the states where the agitation has
taken hold various plans are under con-
sideration. Last year a bill was before the
Pennsylvania legislature providing for
a uniform road tax of seven and one-half
mills, to be raised in each county and ex-
pended under a county engineer. Not
less than 40 per cent. of this tax must
be expended in macadamizing or other
other permanent improvement. Accord
ing to this bill each county will be sub
divided into districts under charge of a
supervisor.
In Rhode Island the League OF Wheel
men have prepared bill, and Governor
Ladd, in his last message, recommended
a uniform road law, which ''should seek
not only TO direct and control the proper
construction and keeping Of roads in the
state, but in a measure should also con-
troll the laying out Of roads, with view
TO prevent their unnecessary and costly
multiplication, and seek to secure a sys-
tematic network of highways for inter
town communication"
The citizens Of Rhode Island have
formed State Roads Improvement as
sociation, with the object Of increasing
public knowledge and interest concern
ing good roads, and TO procure needed
changes in legislation. This association
petitioned the legislature to enact ap-
propriate laws at the session for 1890.
Governor Hill in his last message re-
ferred to one Of the plans under discus
sion I'm New York as follows:
Il has beea suggested that the state Should pro
ce-d 70 coussrucf throElgh eyery coInty two high
vsys rluuuir.z IN diferenf dirsclious and i1ter
seclinz each other In lbOuf The center - tbe
roads % forn . Tart q q comrleto
gsoerzl system. those in esch county 70 conneci
uitk those q a dgolz.ils ool1te, aod - b. knosn
ere-yubere ~ sizse rosts. co1s.r1cted, cared far
anf rnaiu1Ai1ed af tbe eEpe1se q TIE aa,s 81
lar-e undsr t5e dire-ioa and s1perTEstSn ~ Tie
,-Ate enzinser All Earreyar O. oth1r cs1pste1f
.-fhorify - b dezsrnztsi MS sJrie-a. Sbe1
uucs c,1nrse-s-d ro1li ez1bis pz-Eun - starz
f-u,n NeE Iark cifv. A1ha1y ~ srT orrsr Tut1t
81 faaG O. u czTl-ze E1l rIst ever couniy n
~. ra,s -iftdrf o1-s tssrinE t1s s1aie ruaik.
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u-se1 Tbase ru.cs sa1ul1 - uEa-s-sEi1s1 ~ I
s--rrucse-I a c-1stsf $50 uT cf1er s1l-a,ds
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