The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1900-12-29
6666d R66dds R66ttss
Aid to Rural Highways.

Aid to Rural Highways.
n r EW YORK wants good roads.
y This fact has been demon
.N strated in no uncertain way
by the number Of petitions
for road improvements which have
been presented since the passage Of
the Highbie-ArmStrong law. These
petitions were from all parts Of the
State and speedily showed that the
appropriation of $4,000 for State aid
would not meet half the demand.
In the law are incorporated the
most desirable features Of the State
aid laws of other States, while the
Ohjectional ones have been eliminated.
The following notes Of explanation
are by William W. Armstrong. who
introduced and helped to secure the
passage Of the law.
The Highbie-ArmStrong Good Roads
bill is the result of several years of
hard work and earnest discussion. and
from year to year has been altered
and modified to meet criticism and op-
position. On account Of the changes
seems to be some confusion about the
provisions Of the act which was finally
approved. An Intelligent copeidcrc-
ton of the subject, therefore, requires
at the outset Il brief statement Of the
provisions Of the law.
The act provides that any board Of
supervisors may adopt resolution
declaring that public interest demands
the Improvement of certain piece Of
highway not located in city or vii
lage, and that upon petition Of the
owners Of 4 majority of the iineal
feet fronting upon such highway it
must adopt such 4 resolution.
\ copy of this resolution is then to
be transmitted to the State Engineer,
who shall first determine whether the
piece OF highway indicated is Of suf-
iicient public Importance to receive
State aid; if so. he shall map the high
way cause plans and specifications
for the improvement and an estimate
OF the cost to be made, and transmit
copies thereof to the Board of Super
viSors. The Board of Supervisors,
with these facts and figures before
them, may then adopt second reso-
luton, declaring that such highway
shall be improved, or it may refuse
TO 90 any further with the matter if
it so chooses.
This plan was adopted after most
careful consideration. so as to preserve
the principle of home rule to the coun-
ties of the State: so that no county
could be compelled, if unwilling, to
improve any portion of its highway;
and so that no county should be per-
mitted TO do so until it had all the
facts and figures before it.
If Il county, therefore, desires merely
TO know how much it will cost to i'm
prove Il certain piece of highway, it
need only adopt the first resolution
and get the plans and estimate the
cost, free of charge. without going any
further. If it chooses, after ascer-
tanning the-c0St. TO adopt the second
iJsolution, it may, but it cannot ~
compelled to do so. e.
If. however. the Board Of Super%is-
6rS adopts the second resolution. it
must transmit copy Of it to the State
Engineer, who then advertiSes for bids
for the work. If no responsible bid
is made within his estimate. he must
make new estimate and transmit it
to the Board of Supervisors: and, if
the Board of Supervisors then adopts
new resolution, based upon the new
estimate, declaring that nevertheless
such highway shall De improved, the
State Engineer must advertise for bids
as before.
When Il responsible bid within his
estimate is made the State Engineer
awards the contract; but if the town
or county desires to do the work itself
it has the preference over all bidders.
This provision enables localities nav
ing scrapers and other appliances for
improving their roads to utilize them
in doing their own work under this
act. and so keep all the money expend-
ed at home.
Each Board Of Supervisors has. un-
der the general highway law, the pow
er to elect q County Engineer. If it
has elected such an officer the State
engineer must act through him. If it
has not he must supervise the per-
formance of the contract himself.
When the work is completed he must
draw warrant upon the State Treas
urer for One-half the cost Of the work,
and certify the other half to the Board
Of Supervisors, which must levy thir-
ty-tive per cent. Of the whole cost of
the work upon the county. The other
fifteen per cent. is payable in one of
two ways, namely: If the Board Of
Supervisors adopted the first resolu-
tion for the improvement without a
petition from the adjoining owners, the
Board Of Supervisors must levy the
fifteen per cent Upon the town in
which the improved highway is; but if
the first resolution was adopted after
such petition, the Board Of Super
visOrs must cause the Town Assessors
to levy the fifteen per cent. upon the
property owners on the improved high
way.
Such, in brief. is the plan which has
finally been approved by the Legisla-
ture for affording aid in the improve.
ment Of rural highways.-New York
Journal.
Value of Good Roads.