The Red Cloud chief., 1905-02-24
State Aid for Good Roads.

nlu tt uiOu
plan for road building and the bill has
been introduced in the legislature.
The Measure is based upon the popu.
lar estate aid" laws in force in eastern
states.
This severe winter and the accom-
panying bad roads since the thaw has
shown the people the necessity for
systematic road building, and our To-
cal Good Roads association should
take up the matter and give all the
support possible to the bill. Delay in
action means the postpoDement OF
good roads legislation for another two
years Following is II synopsis of the
proposed law:
Sec,ion one provides that the own
ers of u majority of the property + ont
ing on any public road may petition
the county commissioners to improve
road.
The county commissioners upon
hearing the petition may pass a reso-
luton setting forth that public neces-
sity demands the improvement of the
highway and shall so notify the state
engineer
The state engineer then is to care
fully investigate and determine wheth-
err or not the highway is of such impor-
lance as to come within the purposes
of this act aud shall certify approval
or disapproval to the county commits
%sioneIs.
IL approved the state engineer shall
nus the highway to be surveyed and
mapped Shall indicate wherein it
might be bettered by change of loca-
ton in order to shorten it or lessen
the gradients. He shall draw up plans
and specifications for the improve
ment taking into account the climate,
the soil, and the materials to be had
in the vicinity, and the extent and na-
lure of the traffic likely to be upon
the highway, specifying the kind Of
road a wise economy demands
The state engineer is to prepare an
estimate of the cost and transmit it to
the county commissioners.
The county commissioners NAV
adopt a resolution that the road shall
be constructed under the provisions
of this act
The commissioners must secure the
right of way.
Section s provides for the advertis
ing for bids two successive weeks in 4
newspaper of the county. aud such
other papers as NAV be deemed tc
advantage. The state engineer shall
award the contract to the lowest bid
Der. 1t may be awarded to the DO re
of county commissioners or to som
board or person acting for them but il
no Ease for II sum greater than tn,
engineers estimate. Provides 70
sufficient surety to be given by tn,
contractor, and for the payment o
partial payments not to exceed 80 pc
cent of the work done until the entir,
work is accepted.
One half the expense of the improve
ment shall be paid by the state, 35 pc
cent by the c unity as a whole and /
per cent by the fronting propert,
holders.
County engineers are made inspect
ors under the state engineer. i
counties having no county enginee
the state engineer provides for prope
inspection.
Section IL provides IA definite metho
for the assessment of the 10 per cen
on the fronting property in proper
ton to the benefits derived.
improvements under this act sha
be taken up and carried forward in tn
order in which they are applied for.
Under the completion of any sue
road it is turned over to the count
and maintained AS other roads.
Section 10 provides for the paymel
of road taxes assessed against pro-
erty abutting any such improved roa
in cash
To enable this law to be ~efiecti,
there is appropriated s25,0OO.
In the event of an enactment of
law by the United States congre
providing for government aid, Il
same is appropriated for the buildir
of roads under the provisions of tn
acl.
IL the Brownlow Latimer bill pass