The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-12
CHAPTER ss2.
AN ACT TO Provide For the Construction
Improvement and Maintenance o
State Roads. If.

InpioNeHent anu "A"Heeoeo
State Roads. f
passed April 8. 1so2.)
IL is enacted by the General Assembly
as follows
Section i. The governor. with the ad-
vice and consent OF the senate. shall ap-
point a state board Of public roads. to
consist OF Ave suitable persons who are
qualified electors Of the state, one from
each county OF the state. TO hold office;
one for five years. one for four years, one
for three years, one for two years, ana
one for one year, from the first day OF
February, 1902 At the January session
OF the general assembly. A. ID 1903. and
at the January session OF the general as
sembly I'm each year thereafter, the gov
ernor, with the advice and consent OF the
senate. shall appoint such person or per-
sons 10 succeed the member or members
of said board whose terms will next ex-
pire; and the person or persons so ap-
pointed shall hold their Office until the
lst day Of February In the fifth year af-
ter their appointment. Any vacancy
which may occur In said board when the
senate Is not In session shall be filled by
the governor until the next session there
OF, when he shall. with the advice and
consent OF the senate. appoint some per-
son TO fill such vacancy for the remainder
OF the term. The members OF said board
shall be sworn to the faithful discharge
OF their duties, and may be removed by
the governor, with the advice and con-
sent OF the senate. for such cause as he
shall deem sufficient and shall express
In the order OF removal
Sec. 2. Said board may expend an
nually for clerk hire, for engineer as
sistance. and for the incidental expenses
connected with the performance OF the
duties OF their Office, the sum OF five
thousand dollars. which sum Is hereby
annually appropriated for that purpose.
Said board shall be provided with an Of
fice I'm the state house. The members OF
said board shall serve without remunera-
tion, except for their necessary travelling
and other expenses incurred In the per-
formance Of their duties. The state au-
ditor is hereby authorized TO draw his
order upon the general treasurer for any
OF said expenditures, when certified TO by
the chairman and secretary OF said board,
who shall both be members OF said board.
Sec. 3. Said board shall annually make
report to the general assembly, during
the month Of January, setting forth In
detail all its transactions during the pre-
ceding year and making such recommen-
dations for relocating, regarding or Inn
proving the main highways OF the state
as II shall deem for the best interests OF
the entire state, having regard also TO
the connection Of such main highways
with the main highways OF adjoining
states and reporting with maps showing
the present location and grades, the pro-
posed location and grades, and the pro-
posed construction or improvements, and
the probable cost of making such change
Of location or grade or OF making such
construction or improvements. Such re-
port TO be present to the general assem-
bly, at its January session, A ID. 1908,
shall present as near as possible COM
prehensive plan Of all the main highways
OF the state which IL Is desirable TO re-
locate regrade. construct or improve,
with the recommendations of said board
as to the most desirable period In which
TO carry on said work 10 completion NO
work, other than preliminary surveys,
shall be done upon any OF said main
highways until said report shall have
been approved by the general assembly
and the money appropriated for such pur-
pose Said board shall thereupon direct
and control. according to law, the ex-
pendlture OF all such appropriations. and
is hereby authorized TO make all contracts
necessary for that purpose; Provided.
however, that not more than one-third
nor less than one-seventh Of the net
available appropriation for road improve
ment made by the general assembly shall
be expended I'm any county during any
one year unless otherwise specially or
dered by the general assembly at the time
OF making such appropriation.
Sec. 4 All main highways so improved
by said board shall be constructed or Inn
proyed 20 n uniform width OF fourteen
feet exclusive OF shoulders or cutters,
except that any town or city desirding TO
have improved a greater width or such
highway may agree In writing with said
board for such additional width OF i'm
proved main highway as Il may desire,
provided the entire expense OF such addi-
tional width of improved main highway
be paid by such town or city 10 the gen.
eral treasurer. TO be credited to the
amount available for use by said board
for the purposes OF this act.
Sec 8 All road construction or improve
ments made by said board shall be. and
all repairs may be, performed by written
contract, made by said board In behalf
OF the state. and after advertisement, by
order of said board. has been published
for at least twenty days I'm one or more
public newspapers published In the coun-
ty where such road lies and in at least
two public newspapers published In the
city OF Providence. inviting sealed pro-
posals for such road construction or I'm
provement 10 be made under the super
vision and subject TO the approval of said
board and I'm accordance with the plans
and specifications; and said advertise
ments shall state the time and place said
plans and specifications may be examined,
and when the proposals made I'm answer
10 said advertisements will be opened.
and shall reserve the right OF said board
To reject any and all proposals: Provided,
that the proposal or any town or city pos
sessing or having the use OF adequate
road machinery made In answer To the
aforesaid advertisements, not exceeding
the minimum sum named In any other
proposal made as aforesaid for perform
ing said road construction or improve
ment, shall have the preference for such
main highway or portion OF such main
highway dying within the limits OF such
town or city, over the proposal OF any
other person.
Sec. g. The person whose proposal or bid
IL accepted by said board. except when
any town or city shall be the contracting
party. shall be required 20 give boad I'm
sum not less than nifty per cent. Of the
contract price. To indemnity the town or
city where such road is being constructed
or improved. and the state shall not be
liable for any damage occasioned thereby:
and every contract made for such con-
struction or Improvement shall provide
for a forfeiture OF such SUI. - sums as