The state herald., 1907-02-08
PROPOSED GOOD ROAD LAW.


A bill for good roads law has been
introduced in the state legislature. 1t
provides for the appointment of three
state road commissioners to serve with
out pay. They are to appoint secre-
tary who is to be civil engineer at a
salary Of $3.50 and also stenographcr
at not to exceed S75 per month The
county commissioners Of each county
will be required to prepare and forward
to the good roads commissioners maps
showing the public highways q the
county and recommending such high
ways as are Of sufficient Importance to
be set apart as state roads. The state
commission will then prepare . map Of
the state showing the roads ct apart
~ state foads. The bill provides for
the transfer Of the internal improve
mcnt fund of the state to the road and
bridge fund and an appropriation Of
$50, 900 from the general fund will also
be asked for this road work. The in
ternal improvement fund amounts to
about $65. 600 per annum and arises
from 8 per cent Of the moneys received
for government land. Where state
money is expended on road, the coun-
ty in which the money is expended will
be required to expend on the road an
amount equal to that expended by the
state. 1t is also proposed to provide
that the county commissioners Of each
county shall set apart rs per cent Of
the road fund Of the county to be used
on such roads in the county AS shall be
designated by the state commission as
state roads.
Some features Of the proposed legis-
lation seem Objectionable. II places
too much power in the hands Of the
state commissioners when 1t gives them
authority to designate state roads.
True. the county commissioners will
have n chance TO recommend the roads
TO be so set apart but the state com
missioners can disregard this recon-
mcndation " they for any reason see
III TO do so. Having the power to 10
cate the state roads. the state commits
sion could. " they saw III, use this
power for the special benefit OF certain
towns Of the state to the exclusion of
others In establishing the lines Of tray
cl through the state. Having designnt-
cd road ms u state road and expended
state money thereon. the county throu.
gh which II passes would be forced 10
cxpcnd an equal amount thereon re-
gardlcss Of the fact m TO whether Il
was benefit to the county or not
This plan Of road building seems to
have been designed TO meet the needs
Of the travelling public rather than that
OF the farmers and ranchmcn. A good
state road built through any county on
tho plains would be Of much less bcne-
~ 10 the farmers and ranehmcn Of that
county than tho same amour, Of money
expended on the entire road system Of
the county for the reason that only
those on the line Of the road would be-
benefited by Il. What the farmers
and ranchmcn are particularly interest
cd In Ia good roads throughout tho
county and 30 far ms eastern Colorado
is concerned, fortunately, this can be
secured without very heavy espondi.
turc Of money. II the taxpayers Of n
county believe tha, the towna Of the
county should be connected with each.
other and with those Of other counties
by state roads for tho benefit Of the
| travelling public. II would be well cnou.
rh 10 have this done but the taxpayers
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