Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-17
SOUTH pAKorA's ROAD LAW.

[Sioux City Journal.
The Issenhuth good roads bill. en-
acted by the twelfth session OF the
South Dakota legislature, Will take Ell
feet on July next 1t comprises
complete code Of road laws, replacing
the regulations now in effect On the
whole II marks distinct advance to-
ward the solution of the good roads
problem. The new law will apply to
every county In the state unless a To-
cal option clause is appealed to in some
counties. Under the local option clause
the question Of suspending the whole
law can be submitted at the next gen.
eral election II 10 per cent Of the free
holders OF county petition for such a
referendum. II petition Is filed the
law Is suspended until after the next
general election. IL majority for the
law shall then be recorded 1t shall be-
come Immediately effective. If tho vote
n adverse existing road regulations
sail continue to apply in the county.
With the new law in effect the office
Of township road overseer Is abolished.
and township road responsibility Is
discharged by the township supervis-
ors. one Of whom shall be designated
to look after road work, receiving -
day for the time actually employed.
The township supervisors have the
right to make a tax levy for township
road work the fund so raised. as well
as the poll tax proceeds, to be turned
over to the township treasurer. The
township supervisors have Jurisdiction
over all continuous improvements
amounting to less than $500. If the
contract involves less than 800. it may
be let without advertising for bids. II
over 500. 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 ex-
pendi.ure OF $500 or over on a contin-
uous 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 considerable the comm issioners may
employ a practical engineer to superin-
tend road work, his pay to be fixed by
the board. The county commissioners
can levy a road tax Of not to exceed s
mills in addition to the township levy.
The county levy can be increased to 10
mills by vote of majority Of the cleo
tors Of the county. So far as equitable
the proceeds Of this county road tax
shall be expended in the townships in
proportion to the amount received
therefrom. IN unorganized counties the
country road tax shall not exceed 8
mills. The road work there will be IN
charge Of the county commissioners. In
connection 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 macad-
amizing, ballasting. oiling or other ar
tifcial improvement, the county COM
missioners may contract for such inn
provement to be paid for in part by the
county road fund. hut in the main by
special assessments against the abut-
ting property. In case Of state lands
adjoining highways the state IL to pay
its share Of the road improvement. the
work in such cases to be done under