The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-02-22
OKLAHOMA HAS A GOOD CHANCE {
OF GETTING THE REFORM
NOW.
A BILL IS INTRODUCED
Members Of the Legislature Know
That Action Must Come at once or
the Reform viii be Lost In the Tur.
MOL over Location Of Buildings.

Guthrie Okla. Feb. 22.-The move.
mcnt for a good roads system in Ok
lahoma, under state supervision as to
methods OF construction and mainten-
ance, has reached a point in the state
legislature where the desired legisla.
tion will be rapidly enacted or else
abandoned
\ special committee has been nam
ed in the house to confer with n sen.
ate committee. and from the numer.
ous bills now pending. draft
measure that will contain all the
desirable features Of these bills.
Members Of the legislature realize
that unless legislation for good roads
and other important matters comes
quickly there is great danger Of their
being crowded aside by the turmoil
over the location of public institu.
tions No single subject before the
| legislature has so unanimously the
approval Of the people as a good
roads system. Most OF the legislators
come here pledged directly or inii-
rectly to the enactment Of a good
roads law. The only differences of
opinion are over minor details. which
the committees hope TO harmonic.
\ bin introduced by Representative
I. VI. Putnam of Oklahoma City NJ.
be taken as a basis for the bill IN
which the committees hope 70 sgrea.
It provides for a good roads commits.
sion composed of the governor. the
president Of the board OF agriculture
and Il competent civil engineer. 10 be
appointed by the governor for n term
OF four years, and who shall be
known as the good roads commission
cr. Th commission shall plan gen
eral system Of highways to be built
by the state with convict labor, the
cost TO be paid out of n fund created
by levy of one-half mill on all tax
able property in the state, and dis
tributed I'm good roads among the
different counties in proportion TO the
e taxes paid by each county.
II Is estimated that this fund would
, amount TO more than = million dol
A lars a year
4 The state would render further ait
to the counties in the building o.
e good roads under a provision whereby
d a road district Of not less than eight
;. cen square miles may be created
anywhere in a county upon a writer
petition Of fifty qualified voters tc
the board OF county commissioners
which Is directed TO provide for IN,
road construction according 10 plan
furnished by the good roads commits
, sioner
For such roads, the state, IN,
county and the road district each
shall pay one-thlrd the cost Volun
tary gifts of money may be accepted
, by the board of commissioners. anC
property owners may pledge thei
, property for sums in excess OF tn,
road Improvement tax levy. The coun
ty and road district may issue pc
cent bonds in payment. The boarC
of county commissioners may Great,
a road district and provide for Ia,
building OF roads In any part OF ;
county without petition.
Property owners may create spec
ial road districts and for roads IL
such districts the county would pa!
~ 30 per cent and the special district C;
per cent OF the cost The matcra
' TO be used would be chosen by Tho
county commissioners, and the build
ing contract let to the loves, bidder
For willfully damaging an improved
highway, person may be fined from
}. S. TO 800
e. at which his people look upon maul
j. propositions Of grave importance Il