The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-15
HIGHWAYS.
Report of the Commission to
Assembly.
Statement Of Present Conditions and
Reforms Needed.
Improvement Bill, Maintenance Bin,
and Tire Bill.

since its appointment by the General As
sembly at the January session, ls92, has
been investigating the condition OF roads
and public highways In the state with
view to recommending measures for I'M
provement in making and main
General Assembly In document
exbaustively treating the subject OF their
invest igstions and recommending bilis
for better control OF the highways
throughout the State under an improved
and efficient system TO replace the hap
hazard methods now in vogue, and which
have made Rhode Islands roads generally
a disgrace TO civilized State,
The committee state that they have
travelled all over the State, personally
examining the roads and the methods
that have prevailed, have taken counsel
from everyb body who was disposed to
attend their hearings, and have studied
report comprises an examination OF the
geological features of the State with ref
erence TO highway construction and
study OF locations best available
for roads to be laid between points.
Grading, making road bed, drainagettoad
suriscing, road machinery, widths OF
roads desirable for various purposes,
maintenance and repairing, cost
OF building and keeping, with
the facts and figures from
different towns in the State, the question
of tires, their width and State super
vision, the actual condition OF the main
highways and almost every conceivable
point at interest is covered by ere COM
mittee's fine report.
The result Is the accommodation for
the passage OF three bills.
1. An act "ior the Improvement OF the
principal highways throughout the
State, and for the announcement of
better methods OF road making by
towns"
2. An act "to provide for the mainten-
ance and repair OF highways ana
bridges"
3. An act "to regulate the width OF
tires upon vehicles using the highways OF
the State"
The first measure provides for the ap-
pointment by the General Assembly of a
State commissioner OF highways TO be
year, who shall, at the request oil
any town council, examine into
the condition of any principal
highway" with a view TO preparing
plans and estimates for improvement, and
shall make a report to the Assem- bly, as to
what part of the improvement
towns interested and what part
should be paid for by appropriation
| from State funds. On the completion OF
such arrangements sharing the expense
| the State commissioner shall proceed with
the work by contract. The towns ano
cities shall pay their share by State tax
for for in full or in part by the
State shall become State highways, bui
so far as the same ''shsll be within the
bounds OF any town or city shall be KEEP
| in repair. at the proper ex-
pense OF such town or city," The bill
also provides for mecadamizing sample
roads. The bill shall take effect on 1T
| passage.
The second measure proposed provides
for town division into highway districts
not exceeding four, or making of th
town a single highway district and for tn,
election of one highway surveyor Tor esci
| district. This abolishes the arm.
OF road surveyors that sprinkle man!
OF the town so thickly. The bill furtbe
provides for the powers and duties o
these surveyors, the method OF assessing
damages and deciding claims, provision
for keeping the roads clear OF snow, ice
and distractions OF any sort, AM
provision for the fining of towi
by the State FOR permitting its highway
to be blocked or not kept IN good repair
But nothing in the act "shall be construe
10 affect the right of any city TO maintai
and repair it's highways in the manner nov
provided by law for such city," Tn
general provisions of the act take effec
upon their passage.
The third measure provides as follows
After tho let day OF January, 1876, n
vehicle shall be driven or used on an
highway in this State, except a
hereinafter provided, unless the width
the tires on each OF the wheels OF sue
wagon shall be proportional TO the unite
weight OF such wagon and the load there
on, as follows, to wit:
Two inches wide when wagon and load wells
| 1000 pounds or less.
| Three inches wide when wagon and load wele
| between 1000 and 1000 pounds.
| -Four inches wide when wagon and load weigh D.
| tween 1000 and 1000 pounds.
! Five inches wide when wagon and load vcigh D.
| tween 1000 aud 5000 pounds.
| six inches wide when wagon and LOAD welgh b
tween 5000 and 1000 pounds.
Eight in ohes wide when wagon aad load weif
over $4,000 pounds.
Each town and city shall appoint
, wheel inspector, who shall be empowere
. to stamp W heels as 10 legal width OF tire
Just as sealers OF weights and measure
stamptheir uthority on weights and me-
sdres. The act does not apply to carriaR
used for pleasure. A fine is provided, :
0 to s20, for driving on wheels not stamps
5 as having tires OF legal width. One ha
the fines go to complainants and III
balance to the town In which the offen
is committed.
The highway commissioners are: Geor
Il. A. Beane, Walter A. Read, j. G.
Woods, Charles T. Chase, William
Covell, T.. III. Wilson, Martin q. Par
VIM. p. Clarke.