The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-05-08
EFFECTS OF NEW ROAD LAW
WILL SOON BE FELT.
Highway Commission and County
Boards Working at Top Speed
to Get Law Working.

the roads have not been graded pre-
paratory to dragging, says the Reg
ister and Leader. The time to get in
effective work is Immediately, they
contend, but the trouble is they don t
know who to call upon to> do the
work.
The old drag law was repealed by
the law enacted by the Thirty-tifth
general assembly. The state high
way commission and county boards
are working at top speed to carry
out the provisions of the new law,
but it Will be week or ten days yet
before even a tentative system can
be planned.
Inquiries regarding the road ques-
ton and the operation OF the new
law are numerous. John A. McNeill
Of Hampton has made these inquir-
les about the road law:
Q.-Does the old road law in re-
gard to dragging hold until the sup
ervisors have designated the county
system Of roads as provided by the
new law and it is put in force?
A.--When the new law was pub
lished April g. the old drag law was
| repealed The new law became OPP
erative that day. Until the highway
| commission approves the county road
system, which should be designated
within the next few days by the
county board, temporary arrange
ment will be necessary.
Q-Can | prosecute township
trustee under the old law for not
having the roads graded SO they can
be dragged?
A.-No. The law has been repeal
ed
Q-Where the new law is not be-
ing enforced, is there any road law
in force in that county?
A little time must be given
trustees and supervisors to plan a
tentative road working programme
! until the county road system is ap-
proved. The state highway commits
sion is advising the supervisors to
take care of the highways they desig-
nate as the county system as soon as
the designation is made. The trus-
tees are expected to take care Of
the other roads.
Q.-How should proceed to pros
ecute trustees under present condi-
tons?
A.-The state highway commits
sion is given authority to enforce the
provisions Of the new law. If a trus-
tee is not performing his duty in
, form the commission.
Among the many inquiries are the
following:
; Shelby county
els it necessary to publish a
resolution Of necessity to build a
wooden bridge at cost of more
than $500?
I At is. 1t was the intention of
the legislature to require such reso-
lutions in those cases where the ex-
penditure of more than $500 for
bridge and culvert work is contem-
plated This provision was made to
prevent the expanding of taxpayer 8
money on byroads for the accommO-
dation of some influential politician.
Adams county
els it necessary that all bills
for road work, tile and thing, culvert
and bridge construction, be itemized
and certified to by the county en-
gineer before being allowed by the
board before warrants are drawn by
the county auditor?
Ayes. The only exception is
for repairs and then only when these
, repairs are not designated by the
engineer.
Wayne county
Q.-Can trustees be forced to
work roads at once, especially high
ways travelled by rural mail carriers
A letter to the highway COM
mission explaining the condition OF
the roads probably will get results.
The problem of hiring county
engineer is confronting some of the
, boards of supervisors, according to
| information received at the attorney
generals Office. About half the
county boards have employed en-
gineers.
The new law permits the boards to
fix the compensation Of the engin-
GERS. From $1,000 to $4,000 a year
is the range in salaries, 80 far as can
be learned from the counties that
I have reported. Scott county is pay
ing it's engineer $4,000 a year.
A county engineer is made re-
sponsible employe by the law. He is
required to furnish bond. His bonds
men are liable for mistakes the en-
gineer makes It is understood that
this provision of. the law is, in a
measure, responsible for scarcity
of applicants for places.
Duties of Township superintendent.
Hamilton county
Q.-What are the duties of the
superintendent of the township road
system?
AID To see that all the ap-
proaches to all the bridges on the
township road system are maintain
ed in such manner as to present
smooth and uniform surface.
(2.) To keep openings to all cul-
verts and bridges free from weeds.
brush and other materials that in
any manner will prevent the free dis
charge of water.
60 To supervise all draggings
and repair work on the township
road system.
a. To have charge of all drag
gable roads of the township system.
(5.) To make contracts for
dragging.
CO. To fix price to be paid for
dragging, which must be reasonable.
Mt yyi<L;c C;<,-