Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1907-01-22
JOHNSON BILL.
Benton's Senator introduces Bill
on Roads.

/ ne following Oil as uIdIteu
by Senator A J. johnson, of this
county, appeared in the Tele-
gram of January 18. John w
Kelly gave it the following clear
and coacise write-up, showing
plainly that MI. Johnson is using
his best efforts In a worthy cause:
Legislation for good roads will
materialize next week when the
house and senate couvenes. SEN
ator Johnson OF Benton, has pre-
pared a bill to provide for the
permanent improvement of main
high ways and the extension OF
state and county aid. This bill
will be introduced in the house
first, since it carries an appropris-
ton.
The johnson bill is in line
with similar state aid laws exist
ing elsewhere, embedying their
best features. Its object is to
eventually equip Oregon with
much needed highways without
throwing all the burden of ex-
pense upon the people who live
along the road. By its provis-
lions the johnson good roads bill
has the state defray one-third of
the expense, the county one
tniid and the people benefited
bv the Improvement the remain
ing third. Scattering the cost
in this manner is expected to en-
courage road building and all
roads so constructed will be
built as part of system en-
bracing all counties.
| Several Offices are created by
the measure to carry out its pro-
visions. These Offices are a
State Highway Commission and
a Road Engineer. The State
Highway Commission is to con-
sist of three members who are to
come from the Eastern, western
and southern portion of the state
aed will serve, respectively, one,
two, aud three years, They
are to be selected by the Govern
or, Secretary of State and treas
urer. The salary of the Road
Engineer is to be $500 a year,
together with his actual travelling
Expenses, while performing his
duties outside of the state capi-
tai. The road engineer is to be
a civil engineer and practical
road builder.
When people living along a
main highway wish it improved
under the Johnson law, they
must present to the county court
a petition containing the sigma.
lures of a majority of residen,
owners, asking that it be improv
ed. The petition shall designate
the beginning, intermediate
points and terminal of such i'm
provement as nearly as possible
The county court is to inspec
the road and if they fud it o
suG Gcient benefit to be termed {
main highway, they shall pass
resolution that public demands
require the improvement. Thi
resolution is to be sent to tht
State Road Commission. Th,
commission shall then decide
whether they consider the pro
| posed improvement needed.
Upon the approval of the com
mission, the road engineer will
map the proposed improvement
specify the kind of improvement
taking into consideration the eli
mate, soil and material to be ha,
!. in the vicinity. Such improve
] ments are not to be less tha,
ieight feet nor more than II fee
wide, the exact width to be de
Itermined after consultation witt
the county court. If the count
court again recommends the i'm
provement. the state road com
mission shall be notified. Th
state road engineer next adve1
q tises FIR bids and supervises tn
n construction of the highway.
Il When the improvement ha
\ neen determined upon, the coun
< ty court is to appoint viewer
u and appraisers aud assess th
h value of the benefits to all land
/ within two miles on either sid
s and one mile beyond the term
GUS OF the improvement. Tn
> total valuation Of benefits sha
he one-third Of the improvement