The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-05-13
ENNSYLVANTA'S
new ROAD LAW
New Highway Department Created
~. to Improve Highways.
STATE PAYS Two.rHlRps COST

County and Township in Which
Work Is Done--se, 100000 Appropri.
ated, Of Which s5oo,ooo is AvaiIa.
BILE This Year.
Providing for the establishment OF a
State Highway Department, by the
appointment of State Highway
Commissioner and staff of assistants,
and defining the powers and duties
thereof; authorizing the State High
was Depai<snent to cooperate with
the several counties and townships,
and with boroughs in certain in
stances, in the improvement Of the
public highways and the maintenance
of improved highways; providing for
the application of counties and town
ships for State aid in highway i'm
provement and maintenance; provid-
ing for the payment of the cost OF
highway improvements, made under
the provisions of this act, by the
State, the counties, and the town
ships, and making an appropriation
for this purpose.
Whereas, 1t is of great Importance
to the people of this Commonwealth
that the public highways should be
Systematically improved, and that the
several counties and townships should
be given the aid and encouragement
of the State In the building and main
tenance of improved highways; there
FORE
Section 1. Be It enacted. &C., That
Immediately upon the approval of this
act a State Highway Department shall
be Established by the appointment by
the Governor of the Commonwealth,
with the advice and consent of the
Senate. for a term of four years of
State Highway Commissioner who
shall be a competent civil engineer.
and experienced in the construction
and maintenance of improved roads.
Said State Highway Commissioner
shall receive salary of three thou
sand five hundred dollars per annum
and shall be allowed his actual travel
ing expenses, not exceeding five hun
dred dollars, while officially employed
He shall furnish bond in the sum of
twenty-five thousand dollars for the
faithful performance of his duty said
bond to be approved by the Governor,
and he shall give his whole time and
attention to the duties of his position.
The said State Highway Commissioner
may appoint, as the work of the de-
partment requires 1t, and subject to
the approval of the Governor, one as
sistant. who shall be capable and
competent civil engineer and exper-
fenced in road building, who shall re-
,,ceive an annual salary of two thou
sNpd dollars. and shall be allowed his
acS Sial travelling expense, not to exceed
fivd hundred dollars, when on official
business; and he shall also appoint.
chief clerk. Mt an annual salary of fif-
teen hundred dollars per annum, and
may employ an additional clerk who
shall be competent stenographer, at
an expense not to exceed one thousand
dollars per annum. The State High
way Commissioner may require ..le
employees of the Department to give
bond for the faithful performance of
their duty, in suitable and reasonable
amounts.
Section 2. The State Highway De-
partment shall be provided with suit
-able rooms In the State buildings at
Harrisburg, and its offices shall be open
at all reasonable times for the trans
action of public business. The State
Highway Commissioner shall carry
into effect the provisions of this act
and all acts Of Assembly providing for
the cooperation of the State in the
construction and maintenance of public
highways. He shall have charge of
the records of the State Highway De-
partment; and shall each year submit
to the Governor of the Commonwealth
a full report of the operations of the
Department, the number of miles, cost
and character of the roads built under
its direction, detailed statements of the
expenses of the Department, and such
other information concerning the con-
dition Of the public roads of the State
and the progress of their improve
ment as may be proper
Section 3. Whenever the county com
missioners of any county shall repre-
sent by petition TO said State Highway
Department that any principal high
way In said county outside of the cor
porate limits of any city or borough,
is not In satisfactory condition for
comfortable or economical travel, and
ought to be reconstructed under the
provisions of this act, and shall fur
nish to the said Department an accu-
rate plan of the layout, lines, profile
and established grade of such highway.
II shall be the duty of the State High
way Commissioner to examine such
highway, or instruct one of his assist
ants so to do and If in the judgment
of the State Highway Commissioner
said representation is well-founded. he
shall determine what changes should
be made in said existing highway, what
portion of 1t should be improved and
In what manner, and shall prepare ac-
curate plans and make careful detailed
estimates Of the expense of the work
which, in HIS opinion. should be done,