Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-04-11
Road Laws Passed by the Recent
General Assembly

Amongst the read laws enacted
by theI recent General Assent ~
there are two bills which were in
PRODUCED by Judge Sims of Lcusia.
that are Of general interest.
/. One provides for dividing roads
of counties whose Board of SUPER
visors choose so to do, into divis-
ions containing not less than ten
nor more than thirty miles Of
roads, each subsection to have in
its territory those property owners
who chiefly use tho roads therein
and giving to such property own
ers, by a mai ority vote, which vote
shall include a majority OF the
free. holders therein - which road
surveyor is practically road Sec
ton man, in such road sub-dis-
trict, who shall discharge certain
duties with respect to frequent
repair work, as a section foreman
does On a railroad, which duties
are set forth in the act and include
the use of a drag or rut scraper
over all of the roads OF clay soll.or
soil other than sand, in his road
sub district on an average OF oAee
per month after the thaw in the
spring and after each heavy rain.
Each road surveyor may be paid
by contract or by force account as
may be determined by the Board OF
Supervisors with respect to such
work as he may do for 1t, and as
NAV be determined by the sub-dis-
trict road tax payers with respect
to work done for them. Also, but
not compelling them 50 to do, to
vote annually an extra road tax
for the inclusive benefit OF the
particular roads in such road SUBJ
district.
This statute is two-fold in it's OBJ
iect, 1t is designed to have pure
| lv repair work on roads done fire.
kQuently and systematically by a
local man selected blythe tax-pay-
ers and Immediate road users OF
each neighborhoOd, providing that
the now famous rut scraper or
drag, invented by Mr.. Ward King,
of Maitland, Mo-, more than fifteen
years ago, shall be put in use in
Virginia, as it is in successful gen.
eral use in many other States. And
it gives opportunity for putting
into practical effect the known
fact that the majority of the tex
payers and immediate users Of q
particular road are frequently per-
fectly willing to pay something
extra for Improvement of such par
ticular roads, ard can sec that II
will pay them to do Sc, whereas
they would object to an increase OF
tthe general county of district road
tax.
The other modifies the general
road law SO az to give the State
highway engineer general supervi
sorry and advisory jurisdiction over
Boards of Supervisors SO as to co
ordinate the whole road system
from top to bottom and tend &c
prevent the waste of a great dea
of the $500, 900 now being raised
tby LEGAL road taxation throughout
the State. Enables counties oper'
atlng under general road law tt
1 use money raised by county anc
district road tax to comply Will
conditions of Lassite-s road laws
so as to obtain State aid in shape
of convict ard jail road force
Also provides less expensive anc
more expeditions M thod o.
! Acquisition Of rights Of way foI
new roads and charge Of Location
of all roads; and further, allow
Boards OF Supervisors to appoin
district road superintendents; us'
them ss fCremen; allowing
supervisor himself TO act IN lieu o
a district road superintendent o
supplementary to the duties o
same;and leaving is to discretion o
tbs Board of Supervisors whethe
it will go to expense Of having
county superintendent of roeds
thus making the general law MGR
Aaxihle 70 meet local conditions