The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1909-01-08
A GOOD ROADS BILL
The Johnson Measure Vetoed By The
Governor At Last Session In
Amended Form.

the most important subjects TO be con-
sidered at the coming session of the
legislature. During the session of 1907
road law, introduced by Senator
Johnson of Benton county, was passed,
b1t was vetoed by the COVE rnor. This
law is to be taken up again by the
legislature. 1t will come up for the
purpose of considering whether it
should be passed Notwithstanding the
veto.
Since the last session. however, the
Good Roads conference. recently held
in Portland. has appointed good roads
| legislation committee which has been
instructed to compile an adequate and
acceptable bill for uniform law gov
erning road building in the state. The
committee has prepared preliminary
draft of this bill, using the johnson
bill as model, though eliminating
from it crude and unsatisfactory pro-
visions contained in the bill vetoed.
This bill will he presented by Senator
Johnson on behalf of the good roads
people to the coming legislature.
In preparing this bill it has been pro-
vided that property holders benefited
by any improvement to public road
shall pay one fourth of the cost of the
| Improvement. The former bill pro-
vided that they pay one third of the
cost. Tie salary of the State road
commissioner under the new hill is to
be $2400. The old bill called for $500.
The two commissioners under the new
law are to be given $3 a day for time
actually employed. The former bill
| provided for actual expenses aud no
other compensation. These are the
principal changes made by the good
roads committee. In brief, the bill
provides that at some time prior to
January /. 1910, the state board, con-
sisting of the governor, secretary of the
state and state treasurer, shall appoint
state highway commission of three
members. One of these commissioners
shall be appointed from the state al
the commission. This officer shall be
known as The state road engineer
shall be qualified aud competent
civil engineer capable of constructing
public roads in a scientific manner
He shall receive an annual salary Of
$2400.
1t shall be the duty of the commits
sion to seek out the location of goot
building material in different parts O.
the state, to investigate the methods O.
road construction best adapted to th'
different sections of the state, to stud,
the most approved laws 70 the govern
ment of the road construction, and to
hold public meetings throughout tue
state for the education of the people in
the needs of road building. 1t is also
provided that the commission shall
prepare a report before Decent ber 81
1910. for Submission to the legislature.
The state road engineer shall also
provide rules and regulations for the
Cover nment of road construction
throughout the state. He shall keep a
record of the work of the commission
and shall have his office at Salem.
The attorney general shall be the at
torney for the commission.
1t is provided that the state road en-
gineer acting in harmony with the
county court of any county shall have
power to lay out and construct any
main highway needed. or to improve
or strengthen any existing road.
The resident owners of real estate in
any county situated within two miles
of either side of any road or one mile
beyond the terminus may have the road
improved or new one constructed by
fling petition signed by majority
of these property holders with the
county court asking for the construc.
ton or improvement. The county
court shall make an investigation OF
the project and if feasible, notify the
state road engineer ofthe proposed con.
struction or Improvement.
1t is also provided that the size Of
any improvement district may be chang
ed and made either larger or smaller,
If special conditions may warrant.
1t is also provided, however that in
case the needs of a community demand
the construction Of road and the pro
perty owners do not take the initiative
the county court or the state road en-
gineer may proceed in the same man
ner as though the petitions bad beer
filed by the property owners.
The state highway commission shal
! receive all notices of action taken by
county courts and after investigation
decide whether it is advisable to MAKE
> the improvement needed. If the pro
ject shall be approved the state roat
engineer shall make study of tht
. proposed Improvement, shall prepare
maps of the work and decide the ma
; terial tu be used. the course of the rOaC
! and the Slime of improvement. He viii
have active charge Of the construction
: work. All highways shall be not les
than eight or more than IS feet il
! width unless for special reasons.
On completion of the plans for an!
road the engineer shall prepare state
ment Of the cost of construction an'
U send it to the county court. Ii there j