The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-13
HELP AT LAST.
Kansas Good Roads Movement
Bears Fruit.
Legislature Passes the Bill to
Improve Highways.
LEFT TO TOWNSHIPS.
May Vote Bonds to Improve
ThorOughfares.
Tax Levy Can Not Be More
Than Two Mills.

The good roads bill passed the legls-
lature yesterday afternoon and now ohls
lacks the signature Of the governor 20
become a law In the senate the Dill
was debated for over two hours and was
finally passed by vote Of p to IL which
was q bare constitutional majority
Senator I.eidy led the fight on the bill
in the senate taking the grounds that II
would work a hardship upon the Tar
mers who did not petition for the I'M
provement Of the roads
The bill was sent over TO the house
within ten minutes after its passage n
the senate and was taken up on third
reading and passed In the house 1T re-
ceived four more than constitutional
majority, there being 81 votes IN favor
This is the bill which was prepared BY
the Kansas Good Roads association and
IS similar to the road laws OF many or
the eastern states.
The bin is as follows.
For the purpose Of building and inn
proving public roads and highways I'M
der the provisions Of this act the several
counties OF the state Of Kansas shall be
declared road districts. and the county
commissioners may. BY proclamatipn
submit to the legal voters OF their re
spective counties. at general election
for county and township officers pro
position to adopt or reject the law TO
levy a tax of not more than mills on
the dollar, for a period of not less than
i've years. upon an Of the real personal
and mixed property within their respec-
tive counties, and upon the ballots shall
be printed fer the good roads tax
levy against the good roads tax levy,
under the provisions Of the general cleo
lions law; and the judges OF the election
shall count the ballots cast for and
against the good roads tax levy" and
make due returns of the same TO the
county commissioners. as other returns
O. rod nv la n ha W
said commissioners shall meet within
ten DAYS. and, with the clerk OF the
county. shall proceed to count said votes
and declare the results IN a prOclana-
ton to be published two weeks in some
newspaper in general circulation in the
county in which such proclamation is
made. III a majority OF the votes cast
on the good roads proposition are rOr
such law. they shall declare said law to
be ia full force and effect, and shall state
the day on which the same shall take
enect. not longer than two weeks from
the date on the election. and from and
after such date the provisions Of this
act shall be in fun force and effect
The county commissioners of the sew
eral counties Of Kansas shall have fun
and exclusive control of the consrruc-
tiOn and Improvement of all public
roads and highways built or impI Owed
under the provisions of this act and
they are hereby authorized to purchase
an machinery. tools and materials. EN-
ploy all labor. superintendence and en-
cheering necessary to construct or i'm
prove any such roads or highways and
TO pay for the same from the funds pro-
vided for under the provisions OF this
act
For the purpose Of defraying the ex-
penss of the construction or improve
ment Of said roads and highways. the
county commissioners of The several
counties are hereby authorized and en-
powered to levy and collect, annually. on
all Of the taxable property of said coun-
~. tax not exceft ing mills on the
dollar. and the amounts paid by each
township OF the tax voted by the cOun-
Nv shall be credited to the township pay
ing the same. and set aside and used
exclusively Tor road purposes IN that
township The amounts collected from
property ia incorporated cities and from
railroad companies, irrespective OF 1oca-
ton IN said county, shall be credited to
a general county road fund, and said
1und Snau be used. first, in the purchase
OF all machinery necessary for the eco
nomlcal prosecution Of the work contern-
plated by this act. second, for surveys
maps and estimates. but no greater sum
SHAH be paid therefor than that allowed
by law TO the county surveyor for like
services; third, the balance of such tax
commissioners between tire several
townships according TO the value Of the
roads constructed or being cons ructed
or improved under the provisions Of this
act.
Al shall he the duty or the county COM
rnissioners where the roads have been
constructed under the provisions Of this
uated within one half mile OF said roads
Of highways irrespective or improve
Tnenfs, IS per centum OF the cost Of such
Improvement