The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-06-20
OnR PUBIC ROADS.
LaEislasion on Their ImprovsmOat
Of lntarsat 70 Our Raadsra.

AAbAN fAbNA eAAae ANhAAAAtAtA NAN@h
ing the road system Of the state,
perhaps, than any other legisla-
ture in the history Of the state.
If the county courts and other
officers having charge Of the road
work win take advantage Of the
provisions of the recent laws,
there will soon be q marked i'm.
provement in the public roads Of
the state. In the first place the
Legislature provided for more
revenue. The war fund, amount.
ing to $475, 10000 was divided
among the ia counties and the
City Of st. Louis, which win give
a little more than $4,000 to each
county. This money is now
available upon requisition by the
county treasurer, and will go In
to the county road fund, to be
used at the discretion Of the
county court. There was also
appropriated out Of the general
revenue fund, $4,000, TO be APP
portioned to the different coun.
ties on the basis ofassessed yalu.
alton, limiting any county or city
to 5 per cent of the funds. This
will give st. LOnis City and Jack.
son county each 5 per cent, leav-
ing 90 per cent or $3.50 900 to be
divided among the other l13
counties. This money, however,
will not be available before the
first Of January 1908, and win be
available then upon condition
that the county road district or
citizens, acting jointly or separ-
ately, shall provide an equal sum
for permanent road improve.
ment.
A constitutional amendment
was submitted by the Legisla-
ture, which will be voted on at
the next general election IN 1908
and which, if adopted, viii give
TO the county courts discretion.
airy power to levy not to exceed
25 cents on the one hundred dol.
lars valuation. IL will be some
time, however, before the eoun.
ties can avail themselves Of this
provision, and until that time
those counties whose funds will
not permit appropTiating money
for permanent road improvement
must depend upon special road
districts making benefit assess,
ments or upon funds provided by
the citizens TO supplement the
money from the state fund.
Another important law Is the
one creating the ONCE Of state
highway engineer. This ofheer
will be appointed by the board
of agriculture early in July, and
as soon as appointed his services
will be available by county courts
and road commissioners in laying
out OF roads, selecting material,
making plans for bridges, etc,
his services being paid for by the
state and will be free 70 the coun.
ties. Any county or community
contemplating building a perma.
nent road and has not the advice
of a competent engineer will do
well 10 call upon the state high.
way engineer for that purpose.
On the first Of January, 1908.
another law, revising the entire
working system Of the road law,
will go into effect. This law pro.
vides for the appointment by
the county courts, OF a county
highway engineer, who win have
general supervision Of all road
work and over all overseers. II
is important that county courts
select for this position good prac-
tical men, and men having some
knowledge OF road materials and
road construction. Under this
law the oyerseer may provide for
the maintenance of the entire
mileage Of dirt roads in his dis.
trict, by use Of the road drag or