Sharp County record., 1906-11-30
: SOMETHING OF A BILL
That Will Come Before The Next General
Assembly OF Arkansas.

There will be introduced in the
next Arkansas Legislature a bill
known as the State AID Bill.
Said bill was introduced in 1903
and died in the senate; reintro-
duced in 1905 and tabled by
vote Of 81 to 36. The bill pro-
vides for a State Board of Road
and Highway Commissioners, to
consist of the Commissioner OF
Mines. Manufactures and Agri-
culture, Secretary Of State and
Attorney General. said board is
tC elect an experienced civil en-
gineer of much stability and abll-
ity as State Engineer, who shall
reside in Lit le Rock, for conven-
ience in reaching all parts OF the
state, and receive the sum of S3,-
900 a year and travelling expenses
when called out of his county.
Also he is allowed a secretary, a t
a salary not to exceed $50 per
month. A room, stamps andosta-
tionery are furnished by the state.
The State Engineer, in addition
to other powers and duties: is to
oompile etatistics relative to high
ways in the state, collect infor-
nation, investigate methods OF
constructing and maintaining
highways adapted to the various
parts OF the state. He may be
consulted by county, city or other
officers having care over high
ways. He is to publish and send |
out literature on read building,
hold county road institutes and
furnish government information
on roads, He shall test rocks,
stones, binders, filters or other
road material sent to him by road
officers and make report thereon.
He is to make quarterly reports
to the people, using no technical
terms, and shall report all mat
ters pertaining to building roads
to each session of the legislature.
SOME PROVISIONS OF THE ACT.
Section II: Appropriates the sum of sl5o.OCO
out of tho general funds of the state
.neAsa9 Any five or residents along any
highway outside of interpretations may file petit
ton with the County Clerk asking for the i'm
provement of said road, alleging that they will
provide Is per cent of the cost. Said petitioners
shall also deposit $50 with the County Treasurer
who shall receipt for same, together with plat of
road, with reference to the county seat and prn-
cipal marketing places in the county. If the En-
gineer, Commissioners County Judge refuse
the petition, or petitioners fail to provide the 10
per cent. the $50 goes into the general road fund.-
otherwise counted as part of the Is per cent.
Section 4: Provides for action by the Judge
and Levying Court and transmitting of petitions
to State Engineer.
Section 5: Provides for examination by State
Engineer who shall determine whether or not
the improvement proposed is of sufficient public
Importance to justify cost, and transfer the mat
ter to Commissioners.
Section 6: Provides action by Commissioners,
and is very lengthy and tedious
Section 7: Provides action by State Engineer
Section s: Puts the matter up to the County
Judge again.
Section 8: Within ten days after the Is per
cent has been secured by the petitioners the
County Judge shall notify the State Engineer
that the estimated cost is available and that The
work is ready to proceed.
Seetion l0 Provides for advertisement for bids.
the acceptance of responsible bids, appointment
of boards and many other actions and matters by
petitioners. boards. judges. engineers contractors
and others Special overseeing engineer not to
receive over $5 per day. All Of which shall pro-
ceed until good road is secured funds exhaust
ed.
Section H. Provides for the state to pay one
half The expenses. NJ
Section 12 Provides for Road Overseers and
County Judges to donate a part Of the funds IN
each township or district toward raising the 10
per cent, said funds not to be used out Of the
township oNdistrict. IN
Section 49, Provides for taking mp the work in
the order of the petition or date thereon
Section l4 When any road is completed the
State Engineer notifies the County Judge who
shall accept said work, which shall be maintained
by the district in which it is located
Section 15 All officers shall repeatedly furnish
the State Engineer information on roads.
Section l6 No railroad shall be constructed
upon any highway constructed under this act ex-
cept by approval Of the Commissioners and State
Engineer N
Section 1S: Provides for using government
funds in the event that the government passes
law providing funds for aid in building public
highways.
The above is a brief synopsis
of the State Aid Road Law. The
Good Roads Convention, which
met at Texarkana some time ago, {
endorsed this law. Also at a ,
banquet by the same convention
in the city of Little Rock just a
few days ago, at which many
prominent men throughout the