Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-02-03
PLAN OF PROPOSED
NEW ROAD LAWS
SENATOR BROWNE OUTLINES
THEM TO COUNTY BOARD
LEGISLATION COMMITTEES.
WOULD HAVE STATE, COUNTY
AND TOWN EACH PAY ONE
THIRD OF COST.

Senator E. L. Browne. chairman of
the committee on roads and bridges
in the state senate, appeared before
the special legislation committee of
the county board in the circuit court
room last night and outlined the plan
OF the good roads bill which he ex.
poets to introduce in the legislature.
Owing to the fact that the meeting
of the committee was not announced
while the board was in session, only
about half of the members attended.
They listened to Senator Brownies
remarks with great interest and at the
close of the meeting were ready to
ack owiedge that they favor such
law as was proposed by the senator.
This is the first opportunity the
state has had to legislate on good
roads" said the senator.
He suggested a state highway com.
mission comprising the president of
the university, the governor and the
deans of the college of engineering
ana the agricultural department, to
serve without compensation, the SEN
ator declaring that they already are
being paid for their services to the
state. He said it is highly essential
to keep the commission out of politics
in order TO obtain beneciafil results.
He would have the commission select
a highway engineer who is an expert
road bdilder
The matter of good roads is being
considered Jointly by the committees
on roads and bridges of both houses,
and Senator Browne said that before
the bill is drafted expert road men
from all parts of tn country will be
invited to give the committee advice.
In regard to the distribution of
funds by the state for good roads,
Senator Browne gave the following
illustration which he considered would
be fair to all counties.
If the state would appropriate
100000 for state aid, 100000 should
be equally divided between the coun.
ties. Another 100000 should be dis.
tributed according to the wealth OF
each county as shown by the last
assessment. In that case, Milwaukee
county would receive $4,000. The
other 100000 should be apportioned,
either according to the area or road
mileage Of each county.
The senator said that the question
cf which is the most equitable way
to apportion the funds Will be
threshed out by the committees.
Under the plans proposed by the
senator, the money appropriated for
/ the Improvement of country roads is
to stay in the state treasury. II a
town desires to improve a road. II
must raise onethird of the cost Then
it shall petition the county board for
state aid. That body is to appropri.
ate one-third OF the cost OF the ap.
preparation and the state is to pay
the other third from the amount APP
portioned to the county In which the
respective town is located If a town
has raised the necessary one-thlrd OF
the cost of the improvement, the
county board is compelled TO appro-
pirate one-third and apply to the
state for the reIrlinder. Thus the
town In which the improvement is to
be made must give 81 for every dol.
lar contributed by county and state.
All roads built must be made perman-
ent and be approved by the state,
highway commission. The money is
to be expended under the supervision
of the commission and under the d.
rection of the county commissioner.
All counties which apply for state aid
must have highway commissioners.
The towns must maintain the roads
after their completion.
II no towns in county make ap-
plication for state aid then the amount
apportioned to that county goes back
into the general fund and Is to be
reapDortioned pro rata to those coun.
ties which have taken advantage Of