Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-04-04
ROAD AND SCHOOL LAWS.

| Amongst the rOae laws euacleu ny 'uS
recent General Assembly there are two
bills which we're introduced by Judge
Sims of Louisa, that are of general in
terest.
One provides for dividing roads OF
counties, whose boards of supervisors
choose so to do, into divisions contain
ing not less than ten nor more than thirty
miles of roads, each subsection to have
in its territory those pr perty owners
who chiefly use the roads therein and
giving to such property owners, by
! majority vote which vote shall include
a majority Of the free- olders therein
which road surveyor is practically roau
l section mau-in such road sub-disliict,
| who shall discharge certain duties with
respect to frequent repair work, as
I section foreman does on railroad, which
duties are set forth in the act and in
clude the uses OF drag or rnt scraper
over all of the roads of clay soil, or soil
other than sand, in his road sub-distrlct
on an average of once 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 it, and as may be deter
mined by the sub-district road tax pay
ers with respect to work done for them.
| Also, giving power to said tax payers,
J by said vote, if they choose, but not
compelling them so to do, to vote an
nually an extra road tax for the ex
elusive benefit of the particular roads ln
such road sub-district.
This statute is two-fold in its object.
II is designed to have purely repair work
on roads done frequently and systemati-
cally by a local man selected by the tax
payers and immediate road users Of each
neighborhood, providing that the now
famous rut scrapsr or drag. invented by
Mr Ward King, of Maitland, Mo-,
more than fifteen years ago, shall be
put in use ia Virginia, as it is in sue
cessful general use in many other states.
And it gives opportunity for putting in
to practical effect the known fact that The
msiority ofthe tax payers and immediate
users of particular road are frequently
perfectly willing to pay something extra
for improvement OF such particular road,
and can see that it will pay them to do
so, whereas they would objec: TO an in
crease ufthe general county or district
road tax.
The other modi6es the general road
II law 80 as to give the State highway en-
gineer general supervisory and advisory
Jurisdiction over Boards OF supervisors
80 as to co ordinate the whole road sys'
TEN from top to bottom and tend to pre-
| vent the waste of a great deal OF the
$500. 900 now teing raised by local road
taxation throughout the State; enables
counties operating under general road
law to use money raised by county and
district road tax to comply with condi-
tions OF Lqssiter-Withers road laws 50 as
to obtain St, t. aid in shape of convict
and Jail road force. Also provides a less
Iexpeusive and more expeditions method
of acquisition of rights of way for new
roads and change of location of all roads;
and. further, allows boards ofsupervi orr
to appoint district road superintendenis;
use them an fOremen; allowing a super
visor to himself act 10 lieu OF a district
road superintendent or supplementary
to the duties of same, and leaving it to
discretion of board of supervisors wheth-
er it will 90 10 expense OF having a
county superintendent of roads; thus
making the general law more flexible ia
meet local conditions.
Among the school laws passed by the
recent General Assembly there Is one
bill which was also introduced by
Julge Sims, that is OF general interest
. This statute provides that in counties
uhe law Goes not apply to cities whose
school board may so choose TO do, th'
schools shall be divided into sub.district
(Mhite and colored sub districts separate
with but one school in each sub'dlstrlci
for power Of tax payers annually to eiee
three school officers for such school
, with certain powers not in conflict will
the other school authorities, but sup
Elementary thereto, with respect to tn
welfare OF that particular school and to
ward insuring its efficiency. Also Civ
ing power to such tax payers, if the,
choose, but not compelling them so t
= do. to vote an extra tax for the bench
OF that particular school, to be applie'
TO Improvement of the school building
grounds, &c, or adding to teachin
'' force or studies taught, or otherwise, a
the school sub-district tax payers ma
determine, so as TO add to the eficieno
n of the school.
ut This will put the patrons OF eac
N school into more intimate connecuo
with it and give them more control an
a proper control over it, without intel
feriug with the present school author
- ties. Thus it is sought to stimulate au
sustain an interest on the part OF patroI
of our public schools which is general
and sadly lacking at present 10 man
rural communities, aud to give oppo
iunity for putting into practical enc
the known fact that a majority OF Il
tax payers who are patrons OF parilc'
tie Clean up and get ready for spring. Take
ID n,h.-o fosnouS little Dfl