The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-05-05
South DakOta's Road Law.

session of the South Dakoea legisla-
ture, will take effect on July next.
1t comprises complete code of road
laws replacing the regulations now in
effect. On the whole it marks a dis
tinct advance toward the solution of
good roads problem. The new law
will apply to every county in the
state unless local option clause is
appealed to in some counties. Under
the local option clause the question Of
suspending the whole law can be sub
mitted at the next general election if
10 per cent of the freeholders of a
county petition for such referendum.
If petition ls filed the law is suspend
ed until after the next general eleetion.
II a majority for the law shall then
be recorded it shall become immediate
ly effective. If the vote is adverse ex-
listing road regulations shall continue
to apply in the county.
With the new law in effect the Office
of township road Overseer is abolish
ed, and township road responsibility
is discharged by the township super
visors, one of whom shall be desig-
mated to look after road work, receiv-
ing 50 a day for the time actually en-
ployed. The township supervisors
have the right to make tax levy for
township road work, the fund so
raised, IS we'll as the poll tax pro-
ceeds to be turned over to tho town.
ship treasurer. The township super
visors have jurisdiction over all con-
tinuous improvements amounting to
less than $500. II the contract invol-
YES less than 500, it may be let with
out advertising for bids. If over
$lOO. bids must be advertised for.
The price to be paid for construction
and repair work shall be stipulated
by the supervisors. Taxes must be
paid in cash unless the electors at the
annual town meeting decide to allow
them to be paid in labor at the rate of
20 cents per hour per man, or 40 cents
per hour for man and team.
All construction involving an eN-
penditure of $500 or over on con-
tinuous stretch of road shall be done
by the county under the supervision
Of the board OF county commissioners.
In counties where the mountainous
area is considera the commission
ers may employ a practical engineer
to superintend road work his pay to
be fixed by the board. The county
commissioners can levy road tax OF
not to exceed ) mills in addition to
the township levy. The county levy
can be increase to 10 mills by vote
of ma jority of the electors OF the
county. SO far as equitable the pro-
ceeds of this county road tax shall be
expended in the townships in propor-
ton to the amount received therefrom
In unorganized counties the county
road tax shall not exceed 8 mills. The
road work there will be in charge OF
the county commissioners. In con-
nection with county road work, the
commissioners have the right to con-
struct drains across private, state or
county property and assess benefits
and damages.
Whenever resident freeholders own
ing two-thirds OF the property along
any dirt road shall petition for mac
adsmizing, ballasting, oiling or other
artificial Improvement, the county
commissioners may contract for such
improvement to be paid for in part
from the county road fund, but in the
main by special assessments against
the abutting property. In the ease OF
state lands adjoining highways the
state is to pay its share of the road
Improvement, the work in such cases
to be done under the direction of the
state engineer.
Compulsory road dragging is pro-
vided for in requirement that the
townohip supervisors shall have all
main travelled roads. including mail
routes, dragged at such time as in
their judgment is most.beneficial, and
shall contract for the work at their
March meeting each year. In letting
contracts for dragging. preference
must be given to residents of abutting
or adjacent land The dragging need
not be confined To main travelled
roads. No dragging shall be paid
for unless authorized by the township
supervisors. Not more than 40 per
cent OF the township road fund shall
he expended for dragging. J
The code contains the conventional
provisions for cattle ways under the
roads. railroad crossings and the use
OF roads and bridges for traction en-
gine.
Glover and Grass Seed.