The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-01
PUBLIC LAWS PASSED AT THE
JANUARY SESSION. 1895.
The Chapters OF the Public Laws are mum :
bered continuously from the Public Statutes,
revision OF 1884,
CHAPTER 1891.

the Principal Highways Throughout the
State, and For the Encouragement OF Better
Methods of Roadmaking by Towns.
II Is enacted by the General Assembly a. fol-
lows:
SECTION |. Upon the passage Of this act,
the General Assembly In grand committee
shall elect some person who is a competent
civil engineer as state commissioner OF high
ways to hold said office from the date Of his
election until the first Monday in April, 1900.
and until his successor IL elected and quail
aod. At the January session OF the General
Assembly 1900, and at the January session In
each fifth year thereafter the General As
sembly in grand committee shall elect the
same or some other such person as state com
missioner Of highways, to hold said Office for
the,term of ave year from the first Monday
In April occurring during such session, and
until his successor IS elected and qualified:
Provided, that IL any person so elected or his
successor appointed or elected, as hereinafter
provided, shall refuse TO accept said Office. or
shall resign the samo or shall die the govern
or may appoint some such person TO FIJI the
same until his successor Is elected by the Gen.
eral Assembly in grand committee, which
election shall bo for the remainder OF the un-
expired term OF five years Of the office so va
cant. and until his successor Is elected and
qualified.
SEC z. Said state commissioner Of highways
shall receive a salary of three thousand dol
lars per annum, payable monthly; said COM
missioner shall have an Office In the city OF
Providence; and he may incur expense for
office rent, travelling, when officially employ
ed, clerk hire. and charges incidental and
necessary 70 tho performance Of his duties, in
q sum not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars
annually.
SEC g. Whenever the town council Of any
town, or the board Of aldermen OF any city,
shall represent to said state commissioners that
any principal highway, which Is much used
n thoroughfare for wheeled vehicles in
common by the people OF such town or city,
and Of any adjoining town or city, IL not in a
satisfactory condition for the purposes for
which IL is used. and ought TO be rebuilt un-
der this act, and shall furnish To him an ac-
eurate plan OF the layout, occupation lines and
profile and established grade Of such high
way, IL there Do any such grade, said state
commissioner shall forthwith examine the
promises; and II in his opinion said represen-
tation IN well founded in fact, he shall deter
mine what changes ought TO be made in said
existing layout and grades OF said highway
what portion Of said highway ought to be re-
built. and in what manner, and shall prepare
accurate plans and make careful detailed es-
Inmates Of the expense Of the work which in
his opinion should be done, which plans and
estimates shall provide for highway not less
than three rods in width, and shall report to
the town council or board of aldermen Of ev-
cry town or city within which said highway
is 20 be changed, according 10 the plans pre-
pared by him. plan Of the work proposed TO
be done, and the proportion of the estimated
cost thereof, which, in his opinion, each town
or city should bear under the provisions OF
this act.
SEC A. Said commissioner shall also trans
NIT to the general assembly copy of said re-
p+port made by him TO tine towns or cities; and
shall also report TO the general assembly
whether or not, in his Judgment the i'm.
provement will be Of such value as TO warrant
1 ha IN
priation therefor; and also shall report TO the
general assembly what proportion OF the ex-
pense should be borne by the state, and what
towns OF cities should bear the balance Of the
expense. and what proportion Of said balance
will be chargeable TO each town or city under
the provisions of this act.
sic. 8. If IL shall appear from said report OF
! said state commissioners that any claims for
damages may arise in consequence Of the pro-
| posed change Of either width, location or grade
of such highway, no expenditures shall be
| made upon such highway under this act until
4 such claims for damages shall have been dis
| posed of by the respective towns or cities in
| the manner provided by law in the case Of
| laying out highway.
| SEC. @. When the general assembly shall
have acted upon the report OF said state high
way commissioner and shall have provided
| what proportion of the expense Of the propos-
| ed work shall be borne by the towns and cities
| In which such work IL TO be done, and what
proportion shall be borne by the state, and
| shall have authorized the construction OF such
| work under the provisions OF this act, said
| commissioner shall, as soon as may be there
after, cause said highway TO be built by con-
| tract, according to plans and specifications 10
| be prepared by him and conforming nearly
| as may be TO the plans which formed the basis
| Of his report to said town councils and boards
| Of aldermen and TO the general assembly un-
der the provisions of this act; but IL shall be
4 Pal FOR etata ni4gia IN a1t
| any changes in said plans and in the grades,
| materials of construction and quality of work,
| or in any OF them, which may be necessary in
| his judgment to produce better results, pro-
| vided that such changes shall not cause an es-
| timated increase of expense in excess of ten
| per centum OF the estimates of expense there
| Tor by him reported TO said town councils and
| boards of aldermen, and to the general assem-
| bly, as herein provided.
SEC. Z. Tho expense OF any Improvement
made under the foregoing provisions of this
act shall be paid in the first instance by the
rtate, and shall be ultimately borue by the
state, on the one part, and by all the towns
and cities included under the provisions OF
| tho foregoing sections on the other part In
such proportions as the general assembly shall
have prescribed in their authorization 10 said
state commissioners in pursuance of the pro
visions of this act,
sEc. s. Upon she completion OF any highway
rebuilt under the provisions OF the foregoing
Sections of this act, said state commissioned
thall ascertain the total expense Of rebuilding
the same, exclusive of expense arising from
change of location or grade, and damages re
sulting therefrom, and shall apportion the
same in the manner provided in section sever
OF this act; shall apportion the proportion
thereof prescribed In manner aforesaid q
be borne by the towns and cities referred \
in said section sevon 10 and among the SANE
several towns or cities in the same proper
tional parts thereof as the length Of said high
way in each toyss ,r city, respectively, within
which said highway Is rebuilt shall be to tn
whole length OF the highway lying within al
of the said towns or cities and so rebuilt.
| SEC. o. The said state commissioner shal
certify tho expense of said improvement
the general treasurer specifying tho amoun
90 be charged To the state and the amount .
be paid by encb town or city, respectively
and said commissioner shall also certify {
each such town or city the amount 20 be pa
by IL. The general treasurer shall charge sal
towns and cities with the amount due fror
each respectively, by adding the same to th
amount OF the state tax due from such tow
or city TO tho state, next following said cert
l N gl.a1l IN