The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-08
TO PROVIDE FOR GOOD ROADS.

Abstract of the Virginia Association of
Engineers Bill Introduced by Mr.. Thomas
The following is an abstract of the
bill introduced in the house Tuesday by
Representative M. c. Thomas, OF this
city, to enable the State to acquire, i'm
prove, and maintain public roads, and
to create an engineering organization to
lay out and supervise the same, and to
levy tax for this purpose:
The bill provides for the appointment
OF a State engineer by the governor
within thirty days after the passage of
the bill. The State engineer shall give
bond Of $4,000, have an office in the
State house or elsewhere in Richmond
he shall compile statistics, prepare
maps of roads and bridges in the various
counties lie shall appoint an assistant
engineer, draughtsman and clerk
and he shall have the power to appoint,
with the approval of the governor three
district engineers. The State engineer
shall make an annual report to tho
governor, which Is to be submitted to
the legislature, giving the details Of
the work done by the departments. The
State is to be divided in three districts.
The district engineers shall be pro.
vided with suitable Offices in their dis.
tricts. They shall have charge of all
State engineering work in their dis.
tricts under the supervision of the State
engineer. The district engineers shall
have power to appoint draughtsmen
and other assistants necessary. The
State engineer may be removed by the
governor for cause, the district engi-
neers by tho State engineer with the
approval Of the governor, and county
engineers by district engineers, with
the approval Of the State engineer.
AS soon as possible after the passage
of the bill the State engineer snail call
q meeting of the supervisors of the vari.
Gus counties, who shall within thirty
days meet at their CO .nty seats to act
with any engineer designated by the
State engineer for the purpose of classi
lying all roads in the county not within
municipal limits. Reports of this work,
together with recomme ndations, shall be
forwarded to the State engineer. An
nual meetings Of the various boards of
supervisors shall be held in March to
lay out all new work.
The salary of the State engineer
shall be $4,000 year and travelling ex.
penses; that OF the assistant State
engineer, $1,000; draughtsman, 5000;
chief clerk, $1,000. Three thousand
dollars shall be appropriated annually
for the purchase of supplies, stationery,
printing, and other necessary expenses.
The salary Of each district engineer
shall be $1,000 and travelling expenses,
while the county engineers are to
receive 5000 each. The district en-.
gineer, with the approval of the State
engineer, may authorize county en-
gineers to employ such field force at
the necessary compensation to carry
out the provisions OF the act.
a fund of $4,000 shall be set aside.
from which the expenses incidental to
the duties OF district and county engi-
neers shall be paid. All surplus accrued
after paying all expenses shall be
called Road Contingent Fund" to be
used for the repairing of bridges ana
roads damaged by floods, fires, or
other accidents. When this fund
reaches $4,000 its surplus shall be
used for improving the roads as recon-
mended by the State engineer. All
work which is to exceed $500 is to DO
duly advertised for by the State engi-
neer. For the purpose Of carrying out
the provisions OF this act, and in order
to meet the expenses OF the organiz,-
ton provided for, and to pay the ex.
penses of constructing, repairing, and
laying out highways and bridges, a
specific State tax shall be levied All
these taxes shall go into a State road
fund
The bill has been prepared by the
Association OF Engineers Of Virginia.
Colonel ISemper for the Amov ConauI,.a