The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-03-25
Ideas for a
New Road Law

pamphlet explaining what is known a
the Woods Road Improvement Plar
1t is substantially as follows and open
up much room for discussion. Yer
few will deny that 1t contains muc
that is meritorious.
That the United States Government
shall pass an act authorizing tn
Treasury Department to issue one, two
and five dollar notes, to be style,
United States Road Improvement
Notes" and to be convertible into coli
at the Treasury or sub-treasuries o
the United States. These notes shal
be issued to the extent of $66,S75, 900 pc
year for four years, or total issue o
two hundred and sixty-seven million
five hundred thousand dollars, which
amount equals one hundred Thousand
for each county in every State in tn,
Union which existed on January 1, 1898
Should any Territory be admitted int
the Union as a State after the dat,
mentioned January l, 1893)the coun
ties of such state shall be likewise en-
titled to receive one hundred thousand
dollars each in four years, provided the
Secretary of Agriculture at Washing.
ton shall consider their needs sufficient
to warrant such an expenditure. Should
he, after investigation, decide that a
less amount is sufficient, then they
shall only receive such an amount as
he recommends. This clause is SC
guarded because a Territory, before
being admitted might divide the dis
tricts into very small counties, so as
to obtain an excessive allowance for
road improvements.
2 There shall be in every state a
flrst-class road engineer appointed by
the senate or Legislature, with a COM
petent staff, to prepare plans of the
principal roads, with power to alter the
course at desirable points. He, or his
assistants, shall be expected to inspect
the construction and improvements Of
all county roads. bridges, etc, and con-
suit with supervisors, county road en-
gineers, or foremen in all matters per-
tanning to their improvement
The county supervisors shall have
authority to appoint a road engineer
or competent person to superintend
the improvement of all roads and
bridges in their respective counties.
They shall likewise buy or order all
material needed and control all labor
necessary for the improvement and
keeping the roads of the county in
good repair. They, however, shall be
expected to consult with and conform
to the wishes of the state road engin-
eer as to grades, routes, and the best
method Of permanent improvement.
That the notes authorized to be
issued by the Treasury in section first
shall be paid out in the following man.
ner: The county supervisors shall make
out or caused to be made out at the
commencement of each year lists of
the Improvements contemplated to be
made during the year in their respect
I've counties with an estimate of the
the cost. Then they shall forward to
the state road engineer, who shall en-
1orse one approved" and file the
other in his Office, without there are
Objectionable features in them to which |
ne demurs This approved list of inn
he shall forward as soon |
IS approved to the county treasurer,
Who shall attach his warrant for the
AMOUNT of the estimated improvements, |
which however, shall not exceed twenty |
i've thousand dollars per year for four
years.. This he shall forward to the
United States treasurer who shall re-
nit United States road improvement
totes for the amount of the warrant
% the respective county treasurers,
o be paid out by them as per warrants
ssued by the supervisors for expenses
incurred in improving the roads. 1t
hould be understood that the county
eceiving this allowance shall under
AXE to keep the roads in order.