Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-03-08
Reads Inspector.

gates, are the patrons of the only bill
passed at the expired session of the
legislature, tending toward a better
system of good roads in the State of
West Virginia. Mr.. Parsons had doubt
of the passage of any bill designated
hence in his bill he had the legislature
provide for the appointment of the
state highway inspector, an official to
be appointed by the governor for the
term of two years, whose duty it shall
be to enlightcn future legislatures as to
what constitutes good roads and what
material there lies in the earth in the
State of West Virginia that will be
useful in the construction of roads
The bill itself sites the duties of the
new inspector and reads as follows:
A bill providing for the appointment
and removal of a state highway in
spector and prescribing his duties and
mpensatiou.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of
West Virginia.:
That the governor by and with the
advice and consent OF the senate shall
appoint as state high way inspector
some citizen of this state entitled to
vote, whose term of office shall begin
at the date of appointment, and shall
continue for two years unless he be
sooner removed.
The person so appointed shall make
the oath or affirmation prescribed by
section five of article four of the con-
stitution, and such oath shall be certi-
fed by the person who atmini sters
the same and shall be filled in the Of
flee of the secretary Of state.
The governor may remove such
officer in case of incompetency, neg
lect of duty, gross immortality, or NAL
feasanc in Office, and in case of a va
cancy, whether occurring by reason OF
removal or otherwise, may declare the
office vacant, and fill the same by ap-
pointmeDt for the unexpireA term.
The salary of the state highway IN
spector shall be two thousand dollars
a year. He shall be repaid his actual
disbursement for travelling expenses,
not exceeding one thousand dollars In
any one year, an itemized account OF
which shall be filed with the auditor,
to be audited by him before payment
thereof. He shall be provided with an
office in the Capitol, and with such
furniture, stationery, and clerical as
sistance as shall be necessary.
1t shall be the duty Of the state
highway inspector to consider and re-
port to the governor and to the next
regular session of the legislature of
this state, what changes are required
in the laws of West Virginia relating
to the construction and maintenance
of the public highways of the state to
meet the conditions ashley exist With
in the several counties of the state,
with the least possible burden upon
the people and property of %the state.
He shall submit to the governor and
to the legislature, together with his re-
port, such measure or measures as he
may deem necessary or eXpedient to
remedy defects; remove irregularities
in our present laws, relating to the
subject named and give the state
more efficient system of laws relati1g
to the construction and mainteI an ,e
of the public highways together with a
brief giving the total number OF miles
of road in each o. the counties, tue
manner in which roads are constructed
and maintained, the manner in which
money for such purpose is raised, and
how expended, the manner in which
accounts pertaining to the same are
reported, the amounts expended an
nually during the past five years by
the various counties of the state for
the construction and maintenance of
public highways, and with what re-
suits as may be shown by their present
condition OF improvement. he shall
make or cause to be made tests of ma
terials found within the various coun-
ties of the state suitable for road con-
struetion, and is hereby made the
duty of the chemical and engineering
departments of the West Virginia
University to make such such tests
whenever requested by the highway
inspector to do so.
1t is hereby made the duty of the
state board of agriculture through their
official force to render all assistance
possible without neglect to their own
official duties.
By and with the consent of the gov
ernor the said highway inspector may
from time to time cause to he printed
and distributed throughout the state