The San Francisco call., 1904-06-27
NEW ROAD LAW
IS PROPOSED
Committee Appointed by the
Glen Ellen Convention
RecOmmeds Classification
WOULD ALTER STATUTE
Amendment Vests Control in
a County Commission and
Board of Local Trustees
WOULD ALTER STATUTE
Special Dispatch to The Call

mittee appointed by the road conven-
ton held at Glen Ellen on April 30 pre-
sented its report to the Dunbar I'M
provement Club at the meeting OF the
club Saturday last.
The Introductory sections Of the re-
port contain information regarding the
defects in the present road law, and
clearly and at length explains how
such defects may be remedied.
The report embodies many OF the
best suggestions offered at the county
road convention referred to, the main
feature-the classification of roadside
ing put forward by Theodore Wagner,
chairman of the committee to which
was assigned the work of preparing
from the various drafts offered the fea-
lures to be incorporated into a State
road law.
The committee discusses the present
road laws at length and shows that
under its provisions good uniform
roads are an impossibility; it shows
that under the law as it stands the dis
trictS having the most road mileage
and most difficult roads to construct
and maintain have the least income,
while those of less mileage and in more
level and thickly populated country.
where the expense of building and
maintaining roads is least, have the
most money, and that to overcome
present evils a classification of roads
into local roads and general roads rs a
necessity.
The report emphasizes the fact that
under present laws each roadmaster
works his roads according to his own
ideas, which are often very crude. The
provisions recommended by the COM
mittee are designed TO eliminate poll
tics from road matters and put their
construction and maintenance upon a
business basis. The report follows:
First - Classification Of public roads into
local roads. general county roads and stand
ard county roads receiving State aid.
Second-That the State law shall prescribe
general regulations and standards for the con-
struction. repair and maintenance OF local and
general county roads and authorize and re-
qulre the Board Of Supervisors in each county
TO provide further general regulations and
standards within the limits allowed by State
law for such construction, repair and main
tenance within each county and that the State
law shall prescribe all regulations and stand
ards for the construction repair and main
tenance Of standard county roads receiving
All such regulations to be published. so as to
be In the hands OF all officials, including local
trustees and road overseers and citizens gen.
orally, and that no public money shall be ex-
pended except in accordance with such regula-
| tions and standards.
Third-That local roads shall be under the
road district. elected as school trustees are
now elected. who shall employ road overseeI
for such district in a similar manner as school
trustees employ a teacher.
The construction repair and maintenance
of local roads shall be under the Immediate
control OF the road trustees and overseers OF
the several road districts under the general
supervision of the County Board Of Road Com
missioners and County Road Superintendent.
For the construction, repair and maintenance
of local roads local taxes shall be levied and
collected in the respective districts upon esti-
Gf1ad
the limits to be prescribed by law
Fourth-That there shall be in each county
a County Board of Road Commissioners and
a County Road Superintendent. who must be
properly qualified civil engineer.
That such County Road Commissioners b
| elected by the qualified electors OF the county
at large, and that those first elected shall
hold Office for two. four and six years. re-
| spectiveIy. and thereafter one to be elected al
each general election and hold office for six
I years. and that the County Road Superintend-
/ ent shall be elected by the Board Of super
Fifth-That- such County Board Of Road
Commissioners shall have jurisdiction over all
matters relating to the construction repair
and maintenance OF the general county roads
and standard and State aided roads and that
/ exercise supervisory control over the local
road trustees and over the expenditures for
local roads in a similar manner as the County
Board of Education and school superintendent
supervise the local school trustees.
Sixth-That general county roads and stand :
ard or State aided roads shall be constructed
and maintained by taxation Of all the tax
able property in the county a whole in
cluding that in cities and Incorporated towns.
and that the State shall contribute from the
State treasury certain sum per mile an
nually for the maintenance OF such roads
when constructed according to prescribed State
standards and requirements and when such
roads have been accepted by the State as
constructed according to the requirements pro-
vided by law. such State aid to cease when
ever said reads are not maintained accord
ing TO such standards and requirements. That
the State shall pay for the construction re-
pair and maintenance of all streets public
roads fronting upon or passing through State
property.
Seventh-That all work on general county
roads and standard or State aided roads. either
construction, repair maintenance. shall be
done by contract. under proper safeguards and
restrictions, and shall be let to the lowest and
best bidder, and that for the purpose OF repair
and maintenance such roads shall be divided
into convenient sections.
Eighth-That for the purpose OF gradually
bringing existing roads to the standards and
requirements adopted the law require certain
minimum proportion OF road funds collected TO
be expended only for permanent Improvement
thereon until such roads are brought up to
such standards.
These are the fundamental features Of a
new road law which we recommend.
They are suggestions to the Legislature,
which think all that can be made by a
body like the road convention. and IL
adopted by the Legislature IL would remain
for that body. containing representatives from
all parts of the State to provide details and
make a harmonious law OF il. adapted to all
parts of our great State. Respectfully sub
'''''' THEODORE WAGNER chairman.
THOMAS JOHNSON,
REED BROWN CHERINGTON.
ROBERT p. HILL.