The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-07-16
Comments and Suggestions Upon the
New Road Law.

IN Road Legislation, yet IL is now law.
The Governor will soon appoint a
Highway Commissioner and one OF his
first acts will doubtless be to issue
digest of the law in detail.
Meantime, IN response to many en-
quiries, the Legislative Committee OF
the State Grange issues, to the Grang-
ers of Penn'a. the following brief com
ments upon few of the more import
ant provisions of the law.
The new Act does not disturb the
present township road law
The new law becomes operative in
those districts only that apply for State
aid in Road Improvement.
Petition for State aid for assistance
in improving a main travelled road in
the township may be made either by
the township supervisors, or by the
owners of a majority of the assessable
real estate valuation thereof through
the County Commissioners.
In case of same desire by two or
more adjoining townships these petit
tions are to be singly made out and
presented collectively to the County
Commissioners.
The owners OF majority of the as
sessable real estate valuation in a
township may block action in that
township by sending petition against
it within thirty days to the County
Commissioners.
All work done under this law shall
be by contract according to the plans
and specifications to be prepared by
the State Highway Commissioner.
Townships are eligible through their
supervisors to become contractors.
As showing what is meant by an
Improved Road" in materials that
may be used, by whom selected, and
general condition OF the road we cite
entire the 23rd section of the Act.
Section 20. All highways improved
under the provisions of this act shall
require the construction of maca-
| udllllLCu lOdO, VI d lClOlN vi OlllCi
stone road, or a road constructed of
gravel, cinder, oyster-shells, or other
good materials, in such manner that
the same of whatever material con-
| structed, will, with reasonable repairs
thereto, at all seasons of the year be
firm, smooth and convenient for ira
vel. The County Commissioners
shall have the authority to select the
kind of material to be used in impro-
wing any road under the provisions OF
this Act. Any difference of opinion
that may arise between the County
Commissioners and the township road
authorities, as to the kind of a road
to be built, shall be decided by the
State Highway Commissioner. The
Highway Commissioner shall furnish
to the County Commissioners ant
township road authorities information
as to the probable cost of improved
| highways, as defined in this section
"No section of Highway improved
| ulluGI llllS AL olldll DC 1000 tldu OuS
fourth mile in length nor shall the i'm
proved portion thereof be less thar
twelve feet in width.
The State could we'll have afforded
an appropriation Of $I,ooo,ooo o
more per year and should have don
so. There is, however, but $4,000
per year for the next two years. 1t
to be distributed to each county OIL
the basis of the road mileage in eac
county ascertained by townships
This is wise feature of the Act as
gives equal consideration to every mil
of public road in the State, in the pool
er as we'll as the more densely populs
ted richer districts.
1t is provided "That the Count
Commissioners shall furnish, unde
, oath, to the State Highway Commi'
sioner, the total number of miles {
township or county public roads, b
townships.
This mileage can be obtained i
various ways that will be inexpensiv
but yet would, we think, be satisfa'
tory. This data should be local
preserved and be available for th
various townships.
If the amount to which each count
is entitled is not applied for this ye'
+ it remains in the State treasury to II
!, credit of that county and may /
drawn next year along with the amour
a for that year.
4 Ofthe expense incurred in improvir
: a road under this law the State beal
: two thirds, the county one sixth an
r the township one.sixth payable IN cas-
: 1t is permitted, however, for
t county and township or townships
5 mutually agree to bear different rel
:, tive proportions of their combine
v third, but in no case may either p
: less than S per cent. of the total CO:
@ Legislative Committee OF Penn