The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1907-06-20
Recent Legislation
on the Improvement
Of the Public Roads.

BY hon. geo. ID. hihss oeCtothfy DoeAe W
Agriculture.
The recent legislature enacted more
important legislation effecting the
road system Of the state, perhaps,
than any other legislature In the
history OF the state. II the county
courts and other, officers having
charge OF the road work will take
advantage OF the provisions OF the
recent laws there will soon be q
marked Improvement In tbs public
roads OF the state. In the first place
the Legislature provided for more
revenue. The war fund, amounting
to SAFE, 100000 was divided among
the ia counties and the city OF st.
Louis which will give a little more
than $4,000 to each county. This
money is now available upon requi.
sition by the county treasurer and
will 20 into the county road fund to
be used at the discretion OF the coun.
| ty court. There was also appropri-
ated out Of the general revenue fund
$500, 900 to be apportioned to the
different counties on the basis OF as.
sessed valuation, limiting any coun-
ty or city to 5 per cent. OF the funds.
This will give st. Louis City and
Jackson county each 5 per cent,
leaving 80 per cent. or $3.50, 900 TO
be divided among the other lib
counties. This money, however, will
not be available before the first OF
January 1908 and will be available
then upon condition that the coun-
lty, road district or citizens acting
Jointly or separately, shall provide
an equal SUN for permanent road
Improvement.
A constitutional amendment was
submitted by the Legislature which
will be voted on at the next general
election In 1908 and which, II adopt
ed, will give TO county courts discre
tionary power to levy not to exceed
% cents on she one hundred dollars
valuation. 1t will BIZ sometime, how
ever, before the counties can avail
themselves OF this provision and IN
til that time those counties whose
funds will not permit appropriatinf
money for permanent road improve
ment, must depend upon specialroat
districts making benefit assessments
or upon funds provided by the citi
zens to supplement the money iron
the state fund.
Another important law Is the ON
creating the office OF state highwa.
engineer. This officer will be ap
pointed by the Board OF Agricultur
early In July and as soon as ap
pointed his services will be availabl
by county courts and road commits
sioners in laying out OF roads, select
ing materials, making plans 10
bridges, etc., his services being pal
for by the state and will be free t
the counties. Any county or CON
munity contemplating building
permanent road and has not the ad
vice OF q competent engineer will d
we'll to call upon the state highwa
engineer for that purpose.
On the first Of January 1908 al
other law, revising the entire worl
ing system Of the road law, will 9
into effect. This law provides io
the appointment BY county court
OF a county highway engineer VIII
will have general supervision OF a
road work and over all overseers.
is important that county courts 8
lect for this position good, practic'
men and men having some knowlsdl
OF road materials and road constru
ton. Under this law the overse'
may provide for the maintenance
the entire mileage Of dirt roads
his district by use Of the road DIRE
or otherwise, as may be deemed bea
!. This overcomes the handicap In 1
Producing dragging heretofore. Al
other law that will work In harmon
v. with this is known az the Staplett
OF law, providing that the oversser
'ss road commissioner shall have ii
An road drag used upon the public big
90 ways when, In his Judgment, the ros
%. would be improved thereby, givll
~ preference to the occupants OF q
n. land to do the work and providir
ma for n yoaaonahla rOunponaatlOn. n,