Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1909-06-16
NUMBER 80
THE new ROAD LAW
Revised 6u Last Session OF tte
LeUlSlature- Whole System
Is CHANGED.

The road laws OF West Virginia were
so revised by the last session of the
Legislature that the whole system is
changed and placed upon all entirely
uifferent footing. The various Alter.
nate Road Laws have been repealed and
the entire county is placed under the
same system.
In the first place, a department OF the
state government has been established
to be known rs "The Office of Public
Roads," at the head OF which Is the
State Commissioners Of Public Roads.
who Is provided with an Office at the
State Capital. Is to be appointed by the
governor not later than July |, 1909, at a
salary ofS3,000, and expenses amount
ing to 81 600, and holds office for four
years.
He has general supervision of all
public roads and bridges which are con.
structed or maintained in whole or part
by the aid OF the state shall adopt
plans and specifications for same shall
prescribe rules and regulations fixing
duties of county road engineers and
other employees representing all the
road system Of the state; shall deter
mine the method of construction and
maintenance; furnish copies of such
regulations to offices; compel oompli-
ance with same; advise county road
engineers as to the best method of keep
ing up roads and when requested fur.
nish them with plans, specifications and
estimates for repair and Improvement
OF roads and bridges and hold public
meetings in the counties to give infor-
nation and instruction upon road
building and may examine the accounts
and records kept in the counties under
the road laws.
There Is also created in each county q
new office designated as the Office of
county road engineer. This officer Is to
be appointed by the county court ON
October 1, 1909, and hold office for two
years is required to be a practical road
builder or civil engineer and competent
to establish grades and keep the roads
and records as provided by law; his
salary to be fixed by the county court at
not less than $500 nor more than 81 800
per year. The county surveyor may be
appointed to hold this office along with
his office as surveyor, provided he be
competent to do the werk. He shall be
provided with an Office in the court
house and when not engaged with the
duties of his Office shall work ulder the
state commissioner in surveying and
making maps OF the roads ofhs county.
The duties OF the engineer are to CO.
operate with the state commissioner and
act as agent OF his county; shall have,
subject to the regulations of the county
court and state commissioner, general
supervision of all the roads and bridges
OF his county shall superinten1 con-
struction, advise employees as to the
best methods of improving roads; ex-
anime various deposit formations of
stone and gravel in his county, TO ascer-
tain material most available and suit
able for road construction; approve
plans and specifications for roads and
bridges; make annual reports to the
commissioner of roads and additional
reports when demanded. BY the first
of January each year he shall prepare q
map OF his county, showing the dis
trict lines and shall make recommends
tions as to size and boundary of pre-
cincts. The county court, on or before
January 1, 1910, is required to divide
each magisterial district into two or
more road precincts az nearly equal as
practicable. Within thirty days after
January 1 Of each year the engineer is
required 70 lay of the roads in each
precinct into sections not exceeding two
miles ia length, number them and
describe them in a book to be kept. for
the purpose, specifying therein what
will be needed for each section for the
ensuing year and may recommend the
establishment Of new roads. Between
February 30 and March 30 Of each year
he shall call q public meeting in each
msgisterial district of all the road en-
ployees to instruct them In road build
ing and repair, and at the same meet>
ing he shall sell the roads in each pre-
cinct, one section at a time. to the lowest
bidder, subject to the approval or re-
lection of the county court, and re-
quire bond equal to the estimated cost of
work TO be done, and requiring con-
tractor to put his section or sections of
roads in good repair by July 1, Of each
year, and thereafter keep it in repair.
If any section is not sold the engineer
may sell privately or keep 1t in repair
Continued on 4th page.)