Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-10-18


to the boards of supervisors of the respective
counties to increase this tax at discretion.
Authorizing the board of supervisors of the
counties at their discretion, to apply revenu-
es derived from taxation on railroads, or any
other special revenues, to road Improvement.
Authorizing the counties to issue bonds for
the permanent Improvement of roads upon a
vote of three fifths of the freeholders Of a
county.
Providing for the working of the State and
county convicts OF criminals in preparing
material for the permanent improvement of
the public roads; such road material to be
supplied to the counties at actual cost.
Allowing county or city to hire its con-
victed prisoners to another county, under
proper conditions, to beworked on the roads.
Providing for the appointment Of State
highway commissioner by the Governor, by
and with the consent of the Senate, for a term
of four years, whose duty it shall be to super
wise the application of the estate Road FUND.-
distribute road literature and information,
collect data to be published in annual reports
for the use of those engaged in road work,
and for the information of the Legislature,
and do anything in his power to aid the per-
manent improvement of the roads.
Placing the roads i'll charge of the boards
of supervisors or of special road boards in
the respective counties.
Requiring the board having charge of the
highways of each county to employ county
engineer who shall have direct supervision
of all road-work in the county, and be held
responsible therefor; provided. that where
expenditures for road purposes in any county
do not exceed 81, 800 per annum, such coun-
ty may unite with some adjoining county and
employ one engineer for the TIVE counties,
| Amending the present laws in regard to
graduates in engineering, educated at State
expense, so that such graduates may serve as
county engineers for two years, when en-
ployed by the boards of supervisors, instead
Of teaching two years
| AS TO ADJACENT LANDS
Providing State aid to permanent improve
ment of the main highways, on the general
plan of the New Jersey law, with some modi-
; fications-that is: On petition of the owners
of one-third of the lands bordering upon any
section of road, asking for survey of such
section of road and estimate of cost of per-
manently improving same with either stone
or gravel, or she'll, accompanied by des-
cription of thelands which in their opinion
would be directly benefited by such improve
ment, the Board of Supervisors shall forward
q copy of such petition to the State highway
commissioner, and direct the county engineer
| to make such survey and submit an estimate
of the cost of such improvement, together
with plan Of that section of road to be i'm
proved, and the lands described i'll the petit
ton which would be directly benefited by
such Improvement. Whenever thereafter the
owners of three fifths of the land in such
benefit district shall make application in
writing to have the improvement made, and
one-tenth of cost Of same assessed against the
real and personal property in such benefit
district, in proportion to the benefits conferr-
ed by the improvements, such application :,
together with copies of the plats and estimate
and all papers relating thereto shall be for.
warded to the State highway commissioner,
who shall examine into the case, and if he
finds that the road to be improved is a main
road and approves of the improvements and
the plan upon which the work is to be done,
he shall allow State aid therefor. The work
shall then be done on plans and specifications
prepared by the county engineer and approx
ed by the State highway commissioner, and
under the direct supervision of superinten-
dent appointed by the State highway commits
sioner, such superintendent to be subordinate
to the county engineer. and the work may be
done by contract or otherwise.
PAYING FOR THE WORK.
The board Of supervisors shall arrange for
the payment of the entire cost of such i'm
provement out of the county treasury. upon
| of hot fho
work has been well and promptly done, and
when such work is completed to the satisfac-
ton of the county engineer, one tenth of the
total cost shall be assessed against the real
and personal property in the benefit district
in proportion to the benefits cOnferr-
ed, such property holders being given five
years, OF such portion thereof as may be de-
sired, in which to pay Such assessments, the
deferred payments to hear interest at per
cent the assessments to be made by a board
of assessors, to be appointed by the County
Court; and the board Of supervisors shall
also forward to the State highways cOmmiss-
Toner the engineers certificate of the compile
ton of the work, together with detailed
statement of the cost thereof. The highway
commissioner shall then authorize the Stata
Treasured to pay out of the State road-fund to
the Treasurer Of the county in which such
road Is located one-fourth of the total cost of
such improvements. Such road shall remain
under the control of the county and be main
tained at its expense.
Z. That the president of this convention Re
authorized to appoint committee of five TO
prepare bill in accordance with the above
resolutions, to be presented at once to the
Governor and to the Legislature of Virginia,
as soon as possible after it convenes in De-
1 cember, and to urge the passage thereof.
TAKEN UP BY SECTIONS
1t was agreed that the report should be tax
en- up and considered by sections. A great
many of the sections were not changed at all
and some Of them were only slightly amend
ed.
The fifth section contains provision for q
State highway commissioner to be appointed
by the Governor, by and with the consent of
the Senate. Mr.. Maupin, the candidate for
the House from Henrico county. thought
these duties should devolve upon the Commits
sioner Of Agriculture. who should be Afford
ed such assistance as might be necessary.
Mr.. Maupin said great many farmers had
spoken to him about the work of the Depart
ment of Agriculture Of the State, and had
asked what it was doing.
Mr.. H. W. Anderson explained the import
ance of having fully-equipped scientific
man at the head of the road system, and he
was borne out in his argument by General
Stone, Colonel Buford, and others, who in
sisted upon properly-qualified man being at
the head of the road Improvement in Virginia
whether he be under the Commissioner Of
Agriculture or not
Colonel Whitehead, the Commissioner of
to be Appr