Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-03-15
WANT THE ROAD LAW CHANGED.
The County Grand Jury Suggest Some
Amendments.

The County Grand Jury Suggest Som
Amendments.
- The county grand jury, under the d
rection of the court, investigated tn
, working of the county roads an
made the following presentment:
, To the Hon. Lyman Chalkley, Judg
of the County Court of Augusti
County:
In view of the charge given by you
honor to the grand jury, we, the grane
y jury, respectfully state and present
that we have carefully considered the
, existing statutes in regard to the work
ing and management of the public
county roads, and in our judgment in
view of the defects in the existing
statute difficulties in regard to their
meaning and construction, and the in
definiteness in regard to their actual
Requirements, there is little hope of
any improvement in our public roads
under those statutes ; aud in our opin-
ion the said statutes should be so modi-
fed or changed as to provide for an
efficient and economical administration
of the road law. In our view the pres
ent law is wastefui and expensive, it
does not sufficiently provide for the
responsibility on tue part of the road
officials, does not definitely define their
duties, or provide remedies for failure
of duty
Under the present law there are too
many officials, subject to no response
BILE head. The present law provides
for settlements before the board OF su-
pervisors, and these settlements are
SO tedious and vouchers so numerous.
that it Is practically impossible for the |
board of supervisors to give proper |
and efficient attention to the SO nu-
merous vouchers. We are further of |
opinion that an examination of the |
large outlays expended for years past |
in working the roads, and an examina-
tion of the present condition of the
roads, fully demonstrate the inefici-
ency OF our present road laws. In onr
opinion, the present road law should
be Sc modified and amended as to pro
vide.
First-FOr the appointment of an of
fcer charged with the supervision of
all OF the roads in the county, and au-
ditor Of all accounts connected with
the road administration. This should
be general superintendent and audi
tor. The general superintendent and
auditor for the county shall be ap-
pointed by board, consisting of the
county court clerk and president of the
board of supervisors.
SecOnd-Each district shall have
one or more Overseers of roads. to be
appointed by board, consisting of the
auditor, or general manager, super
visor and road director of each dis
5rlct; and shall work them by regular s
set of hands, whose exclusive business '
shall be to work on the public roads {
Turing the entire year, or during such {
period as shall be designated by the |
BOARD; and by reason of this training {
shall become skilled laborers. Also c
hat each magisterial district shall own /
;he team and road implements requir- q
I'd to do the necessary work of the dis a
rict. v
Thlrd-To require such a system in t
he working of the roads az to insure e
hat tho money and means be expend- /
ID with view to the permanent i'm 6
of the roads, {
Many other improvements In the L
present road law are required In our
opinion, but those above specified are I
eading matters in regard to which t
'hanges in our opinion, should be t
made
We are further of the opinion that c
t would be to the interest of the cities :
If this State to bear a portion Of the r
axes necessary to permanently i'm a
prove the roads OF this State. I
We recommend that suitable road T
,ode for Augusta county be drafted i
Ind that the Legislature be urged to
PASS it.
Very respectfully submitted, c
W. w. SPROUL, Foreman. c
March 8, 1901.