The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-03-21
STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM.
CAPITAL News.

mission law passed by the recent leg
islature will it is claimed by those
Instrumental in backing it, create q
system of highways in this state
which, in a comparatively few years
will equal that of any other western
state. The law is combination OF
three measures introduced in the
last house of representatives and the
fund provided for to meet general
! expenses of the commission. pay the
salaries of the commissioners, high
way engineer and care for the road
and the bridge improvements will be
raised exclusively by automobile
owners over the state. A $2000,00O
good roads bond bill is companion
measure. Both bills have been sign
ed.
The state highway commission Gre
ated makes the secretary of state an
ex-officio member the state engin-
eer an eX-officio member the head
of the engineering department of the
| University of Idaho regular men,
Der and the other two to be named
! by the chief executive. The APP
pointive commissioners are to hold
office for terms of three years The
| law becomes operative on the sixtieth
day following the adjournment of
the legislature for it did not carry
an emergency clause. The commits
sioners serve without compensation
but receive their actual expenses
when travelling or on duty on COM
mission work. They arc permitted
meetings. but all regular meetings
are designated to be held with the
secretary of state They are required
to organize by electing a chairman
and vice chairman 10 days following
their appointment,
COnrol of State Highways
The general powers given to the
commission by the new law permit
them to have absolute jurisdiction
over state highways in Idaho incIud-
ing the letting of contracts, receiving
Of bids and passing on them, the de-
signaling of highway improvements,
to eXpend the fund created in the inn
provement and building of roads and
bridges, to adopt a uniform system
of state roads and regulations they
are empowered to adopt governing
state highways, to investigate and
determine the various methods Of
road construction, to improve alter
or discontinue any state highway, to
divide the state into separate high
way districts to employ division sup
erintendents, competent highway
engineer, to supervise the registra-
ton and licensing of automobiles,
motor vehicles and motor vehicles
manufacturers and dealers.
Can Use Prison Labor.
Subject to the rules and regulations
of the state board of prison commits
sioners the highway commission
may draw upon the state peniten-
tiary for convicts and employ them
on state road construction work
Each convict to be worked on the
highways to be designated will be
paid so cents per day. This is CON
sidered to be one Of the strong PROV
isions of the new law.
A state highway fund is created
by the law, to be made up Of licenses
from automobile owners in this state,
the license permitting the owners Of
machines to operate them within the
corporate limits of any town or city
of the state, in any village or on any
highway in the state. Without such
a license owners Of autos will not be
permitted to operate their machines.
The licenses are secured from the
secretary of state, and the owner of
each machine for which he secures a
license must file with that official a
complete description of the auto or
autos, and the name Of the owner
and description of his car or cars is
then registered with the secretary of
state.
License BY Horse Power.
The license fee is regulated by the
horsepower of the machine for which
a license tag is granted, running
from $40 for a 80 horsepower mach
inc to as high as $50. The license is
good for but one year. Motorcycle lie
enses are placed at s. per annum
Upon the sale Of motor vehicle
registered in accordance with the
terms of the new law, by other than
a dealer or manufacturer, the ven
dee is required, within 10 days after
the date of the sale, to notify the
secretary of the highway commission
of such sale showing the transfer