The Forrest City times., 1911-09-15
NEW HIGHWAY SYSTEM
 IN ST. FRANCIS COUNTY
Spirit of Road improvement Is Grow ing Stronger Among the Peo-
 pie of Arkansas.

Since the spirit of highway im- provement is growing stronger among the people throughout the state, any measure which has for its purpose the making of better roads, Is of in- terest to those who want to see Ark ansas go forward in the path of progress. The new system of build ing and maintaining highways in St. Francis county. under special act of the 3sth general assembly, might be profitably pondered by citizens of other counties in the state.
 Briefly stated. the bill creates the office of superintendent of public justices Of the county. shall prepare an accurate list and description of the public roads in the county. making same by townships. The descriptions must state length and width of each road, together with complete notes upon the condition Of each road. The number of road hands in each town ship must also be included in these reports, which are to be recorded in a book prepared for that purpose. and to be kept as a permanent record. The superintendent is to receive salary of not less than S100 nor more than $50 a month and is required 10 execute good bond for the proper dis charge of his duties. He has general supervision of the public roads in his county and is charged with the duty of seeing that they are properly worked and kept in repair. The road tax, levied and collected under law as now provided, shall be kept in one account to be known as the county road fund All persons are subject to road duty the same as under the former law. and upon failure to work. as required under the law, are not only subject to fine, but 10 civil ac- ton for recovery by the county of one dollar day for each day they shall fail to work the road during any year Any hand may commute his time for one year by paying s4 in advance by April 10 of each year All misde- meanor and felony eonvicts whose terms do not exceed five years, may be worked on the roads. The super intendent has the right to appoint a deputy to serve in each township, with the approval of the county court The county court may enter into con- tracts for building and repairing roads in each township. Such contractor Is authorized to work the road hands for such time as they are liable to work, 1 or collect cash from them in lieu there of. the same to be applied on the con tractors compensation. There shall be prepared specifications designating 1 the roads and the manner i'll which they shall be worked and kept during l the term of the contractor. I he con- l tractor is required to give sufficient 1 bond for faithful performance of his duties. The road superintendent is
 required to oversee the work in each township and is given powers usu
 ally exercised by architects and en 1 gineers, 10 see that such work is done in accordance with the contract 1 and specifications. The superintend. ent Is required to report to the county court every three months, the condi ton of the roads and progress of work thereon. Should the road superin- 1 tender. falsely certify as to any ma. terial fact regarding the work under any contractor, he is liable to a fine of 5000.