The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-11-20
GOOD ROADS BILL.

The committee that was recently ap-
pointed at meeting held in Baltimore,
looking for the improvements fthe public
roads of the state, has prepared a bill
that will be reported on December I'd to
the adjourned meeting which is to be
held on that date. The outlines of the
bill as given in the Baltimore American
ARE as follows:
THE bill. which has the approval of
the farmers, is described as an act for the
improvement of the public highways of
the state and to require the State Geolog-
ical and Economic Survey to perform
certain additional duties. All net reve-.
nues which may hereafter be derived
from the sale, lease or other disposition
of the oyster grounds of the state shall
be applied to reduce the amount appro-
priated, but nothing is to be interpreted
as restricting the amount which may be-
come available for highway construction
from the sale, lease or other disposition
of the oyster grounds.
The proposed bill provides that when.
ever any board of county commissioners
shall have declared their intention to
cause any particular road or section
thereof to be built or improved under
provisions of this act, such board shall
notify the State Geological and Economic
Survey. through its superintendent, in
writing, on or before the first day of March
in each year, and shall request ofsaid sur
vey plans and specifications and an esti-
mate of the cost ofthe proper performance
ofsaid work according to these plans and
specifications; and whenever there shall
be presented to the Board of County
Commissioners of any county petition
signed by the owners of at least two
thirds of the lands and real estate front
ing or bordering on any public road or
section of road in such county, not being
less than one mile in length, or the con-
tinuation of road already properly I'M
proved, and setting forth that they are
willing to be assessed an amount equal
to ten per cent. of the entire cost of the
improvement, it shall be the duty of the
Board of County Commissioners. if they
decide to make any application under
this act, to include such road in their re-
quest to the State Geological and Eco
nomical Survey, as hereinbefore set forth
and the said ten per cent of the cost shall
be assessed on and collected from the Pc
titioners as any other county taxes are.
If the survey decides that the said road
will be an improvement, and ifa sufficient
amount is appropriated, the survey shall
have made the necessary surveys and
shall cause to be drawn up the plans and
specifications for the work. Upon the
order of the survey the Board of County
Commissioners so requesting plans and
specification shall pay the cost ofsurvey-
ing, mapping. etc, out of the county
funds, provided the EXPENSES not greater
than $50 per mile.
"Sealed bids for such work will be
received up to a certain date, the board
reserving the right to reject any and all
the bids. The contract shall be awarded
to the lowest bidder, provided the amount
does not exceed the estimate made by the
survey, and if all bids exceed the amount
no contract will be awarded and the bids
will be thrown open again. The success
full contractor will be compelled to ente,
upon a contract with the said board and
to give bond in a sum of not less than the
total amount of the contract, with a
surety company of which the board may
approve. All contracts and contractors
shall be subject to the approval of the
surety, and in order to assure proper ex.
ecution of the work it shall be the duty
of the State Geological and Economical,
Survey to maintain immediate super
vision over the execution of the contracts
the cost of such supervision to be paid to
the said surety by the comptroller of the
state out of the appropriation provided
for by this act. Where the work has beer
, completed in any instance the survey shall
report the same to the comptroller who
shall pay to the board of county commits
r sioners one-half of the total cost.
mo one county shall receive in an,