The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-16
WASHINGTON DOING
 MUCH FOR ROADS Lancaster Talks of the Great
 Western Highways STATE PLANS BIG WORK System of 5cuIevards Along the Coast Will Connect Larger Cities and
 Make Most Picturesque
 Drives in the World.
STATE PLANS BIG WORK
BY WALTER HARPER.

Sam c. Lancaster, who is discussing good roads in the Sixth district, is per haps the best informed man on this sub ject in the United States.
 He is consulting engineer in the division of roads in the department of agriculture and has spent most of his life in the work For many years he was city en- gineer of Jackson, Tenn. which position he still holds in an honorary sense Though he spends but little time in Jack son, which is his home, he is regularly elected to the place with an assistant who actually performs the duties of the office, though MT. Lancaster voluntarily l renders much valuable assistance when at home.
 l It is to his untiring efforts and good Judgment that Jackson is due its ex- cellent water works system and the beau- 1 tiful park that bears his name He was also Instrumental in the building of the famous roads that extend out oyer the county. The nucleus upon which this system was built was a bond issue of S5O,00O for which MT Lancaster worked | industrlously. Mir Lancaster supervised the building of the roads
 In Washington.
 For the past few months Mir. Lancaster has been in Washington state assisting in the passage of good roads laws and Tn the planning of a great state system of public highways.
 The state legislature has just passed the necessary laws. and Mir Lancaster will return next week to assist in putting them in force
 MT. Lancaster is working in conjunc- tion with Samuel Hill, president of the Washington State Good Roads associa- ton, who is known to be one of the greatest good roads enthusiasts in the world.
 Mir Hill is said to be one of the wealth. fest men on the Pacific coast, and Is a son-in-law of James J. Hill, the rail- road magnate.
 He came all the way from Seattle at his own expense to witness the launching of Congressman Hobsons educational movement in the Sixth district. He made several speeches during the day and night he was with the party, and before his de- parture on a special train he expressed himself as very much pleased with the work of Captain Hobson, and the interest with which it is being received by the people. He declared in one of his ad- l dresses that Congressman Hobson is the | greatest public benefactor of the age. l In discussing the good roads move l ment in Washington, MT. Lancaster said: l The legislature of Washington has just | in the United States. That state is in l fair way to secure the finest system of | public highways in the country. | Tt has taken careful and diligent work to secure all the laws necessary, but, thanks to the wisdom and tireless energy of Mir Samuel Hill, president of the | Washington Good Roads association, we finally got all we asked for "We secured the passage of eleven laws which. collectively make up perfect plan for the building of public highways
 The first law enacted creates the of flee of highway commissioner and state highway board. The commissioner Is ap- pointed by the governor and holds office for four years unless removed for cause. The said commissioner shall be a capable and experienced civil engineer and sur veyor and receives an annual compensa- tion of s25O0 and is allowed travelling and office expenses
 Highway Board.
 '"rhe highway board is composed of the state auditor, the state treasurer and the highway commissioner. The duty of the highway commissioner Is to investi- gate. survey, and make estimates of costs
 
 the board which passes on the plans and l issues the necessary orders. The board also has charge of the appropria ton of moneys and the awarding of contracts.
 'The second law provides means for raising public highway fund and pro- vdes that the proper state officers shall levy and collect a tax of one-half of one mill upon all the property in the state subject to taxation for the fiscal year commencing March 1. 1907, and for each fiscal year thereafter for the repair and construction of highways and bridges.
 To Work convlcts. The third law enacted provides for the employment of convicts not other wise employed in the construction of state roads, the expense of guarding and main tenance to be paid out of the road fund. '"The fourth law defines state roads and state aid roads and provides for their construction. The state road is built by the state in sparcely settled communities and in the mountain sections where roads are necessary.
 State Aid Road.
 'The state aid road is construed to mean improved roads constructed along main lines of travel the cost of which is distributed between the state and any county. Tho law provides for the build ing of thirteen state roads and the sum of 250,O00 is appropriated for their con struction. These proposed main thor oughfares are specifically described in the statute.
 The fifth law provides for the build ing of state aid roads, This law pro- vides that the board of commission of any county may apply to the state board for the building or improvement of any road ir the county either on it's own initiative or from petition from property owners affected. If the road is found to be feasible and of general public benefit after a careful investigation bids are ad- vertised for and the contract let. The stats pays half the expense The county pays s5 per cent of the total cost If the road Is built by petition from the land owners these land owners are as- sessed for the other fifteen per cent If the road Is built by petition of the county commissioners the several districts through which the road passes are as- sesse1.
 To Complete Contracts.