Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-03-26
THE new ROAD LAW
PASSED BY SENATE
Complete Bill as 1t Will Doubtless
BE Enacted and Signed by
Governor.
PREPARED BY
JOINT HIGHWAY COMMITTEE
The New Law Passed by Iowa Legis.
lature for Construction and Main
tenance of Highways.

The new Iowa road law, as pre-
pared by the joint committee on roads
of the Iowa house and senate and
passed by the legislature, is given in
full below, inasmuch as it is one of
the most important measures acted
upon by the present session of the
general assembly, and will be eagerly
read, because every good citizen is
interested in good roads.
We do not believe the bill answers
the public demand, in that it lacks
the force, the positiveness, the ad-
vancement, asked and expected by
the people of the state by the legisla-
ture. We do not believe that it will
accomplish the improvement in pub
lie roads that the people have de-
manded and have a right to demand
Nevertheless, it is step forward,
and is probably the best that could
be done. Possibly out of it may come
other legislation and an added impet-
us to make the roads of the state, as
they should be, passable at all times
of the year, and in good condition the
greater part of the time.
Be 1t Enacted By the General Assem-
bly, of the State of Iowa:
| Section l. The Office of the state
highway commission is hereby locat-
ed at the state college of agriculture
and mechanic arts. Said commission
shall be composed of three members
to be appointed Immediately upon the
taking effect of this act Said col
lege shall appoint one of said mem
bers, who shall be a civil engineer in
| it's employ, and shall hold Office dur
ing the pleasure of said college. The
other two members of said commits
sion shall be appointed by the gov
ernor, from different political part
| les, for the period of two CD and
! four ca years. If, for any reason,
a vacancy occurs in the membership
appointed by the governor, he shall
| fill such vacancy for the remainder of
the uneXpired term, from the same
political party from which the vacan-
cy occurred. The attorney general
shall act as attorney for the commits
sion, and shall advise them upon all
legal questions. arising with reference
to the duties of said commission.
Section 2. Each of the commits
sioners appointed by the governor
shall, for the first year of service, re-
ceive the sum of seven ($7.00) dol
lars for each day actually employed
in the work of said commission, the
total compensation for said first year
not to exceed the sum of one thous-
and ($1 ,00O.00) dollars. For subse-
quent years the compensation shall
be seven ($7.0O) dollars for each day
but not to exceed five hundred $780,
| OO) dollars per year. The executive
cOunlil shall allow the per diem here
in provided and actual expenses of
all the commissioners.
Section 3. The duties of said COM
mission shall be:
| 1st. To devise and adopt plans of
highway construction and mainten-
ance suited to the needs of the diff
| ferent counties of the state and furn-
ish standard plans to county engi-
neers.
I'd. To disseminate information
and instruction to county supervis-
ors and other highway officers; ans
wer inquiries and advise such super
visors and officers on questions per-
tanning to highway improvements,
construction and maintenance and
reasonable prices for materials and
construction.
| Sd. To keep record of all import
ant operations of the highway COM
mission and to annually report the
same to the governor by the first day
of December, which report shall be
( printed as public document.
4th. To appoint such assistants as
are necessary to carry on the work Of
the commission, define the duties and
fix the compensation of each, and
terminate at will the term of employ
ment of all employees; provide for nee
essary bonds, and fix the amount of
same.
5th. To make investigation as to
conditions in any county, and to re-
port any violation Of duty, either of
commission or commission; said COM
mission shall report such investiga-
tion to the attorney general who shall
take such steps as are deemed advis-
able by him to correct the same
9Th. To perform all other duties
required by law
All culverts over four CA ft) feet,
and all bridges, shall be paid out
of the county bridge fund.
/ Section 4. The board of supervis-
ors of each county, within thirty days
from the taking effect of this act, or
as soon thereafter as practicable
shall employ a competent engineer or
engineers, who shall perform the du-
ties as hereinafter provided, and who
shall be employed for such length OF
time and at such compensation, to be
paid out of the. county fund, as may
be fixed by the board of supervisors
said engineer or engineers shall give
bonds for the faithful performance
of their duties in a sum not less than
enc thousand Isl 100000 dollars nor
more tnan five thousand $4,000 dol.
lars. At the time of employing such
engineer, or as soon thereafter as
practicable, and not later than March
l, 1914, the board shall designate and
select from the highways of the coun.
ty the county roads, the mileage OF
which shall not be less than ten (1O)
DQr cent nor mora than fiftaon f1E,