The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-02-04

4 cultural Congress to draft
~oR good roads" law to be
presented to the next Legislature has
completed it's labors.
The bill, which has the approval of
the farmers, is described as an act for
the improvement of the public high
ways of the State and to require the
State Geological and Economic Survey
to perform certain additional duties.
All net revenues which may hereafter
b. derived from the sale, lease or other
disposition of the oyster grounds OF
the State shall be applied to reduce
the amount appropriated, but nothing
is to be interpreted as restricting the
amount which may become available
for highway construction from the
sale, lease or other disposition of the
oyster grounds.
The proposed bill provides that
whenever any board of county commits
sioners shall have declared its inten.
ton 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 superin-
tendent, in writing, on or before the
first day Of March in each year, and
shall request of said survey plans and
specifications and an estimate Of the
cost Of the proper performance of said
%o
specifications; and whenever there
shall be presented to the Board Of Coun-
ty Commissioners Of any county Pc.
tition signed by the owners of at least
two-thirds Of the lands and real estate
fronting or bordering on any public
road or section Of road in such coun.
ty, not being less than one mile in
length, or the continuation Of road
already properly improved. and setting
forth that they are willing to be as:
sessedN an amount equal to ten per cent
O: the entire costsef 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-
>questzto the Stat tesG Biological and Eco
nomic Survey, as hereinbefore set
forth, and the said ten per cent of the
cost shall be assessed OH and collected
from the petitioners as any other coun.
ty taxes are. If the survey decides
that the said road will: be an improve
ment, and if a 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 Coun-
ty Commissioners so requesting plans
and specifications shall pay the cost OF
surveying, mapping, ETC., out OF the
county funds, provided the expense is
not greater than $50 mile.
Sealed bids for such work will be re-
ceived up to a certain date, the board
reserving the right to reject any and
all bids. The contract shall be award
ed to the lowest bidder, provided the
amount does not exceed the estimate
made by the survey, and if all bids e1'
ceed the amount no contract will be
awarded, and the lids will all be
thrown open again. The successful
contractor will be compelled to enter
upon a contract with the said board
and to give a bond in the sum Of not
less than the total amount Of the con-
tract, with a surety company Of which
the board may approve. All contracts
and contractors shall be subject to the
approval Of the survey, and in order
to assure proper execution Of the work
it shall be the duty of the State Geo.
logical and Economic Survey o'main'
tain immediate supervision over the
execution Of the contracts, the cost OF
such supervision to be paid to the said
survey by the Controller Of the State
t out Of the appropriation provided for,
by this act. When the work has been
completed in any instance the survey
shall report lue same to the Controller,
! Tho shall pay to the Board Of County
Commissioners one-nalf Of the total
cost. So - : = :
No one county shall receive In any
year a larger proportion of the tota!
amount appropriated by this act fol
said year than the proportion which
the then existing miles Of public road
in said county bears to the then exist
ing miles of public road in all the coun'
ties applying for, State aid unless
balance remains unallotted under the
arrangement described, in which event
the said balance may be apportioned
among the counties which have not
received the full amount OF their ap'
plication. The survey will determine
the merits Of all applications.
And road constructed in this manner
will forever thereafter be county
road, and the duty Of keeping it in re-
-air will devolve upon the county. The
survey shall notify the county commits
sioners of all repairs needed, and upon
refusal or neglect Of the board to make
such repairs the survey may refuse
to furnish such county with further
assistance until the repairs are made.
The board may also be made to make
these repairs upon the application OF
NJ, n fhn .Eir.