The Green Forest tribune., 1915-04-02
Important Facts on New Road Low

The new AleAdilubJ IlOdu LdW, HUN effective has many important points with which the public, the county of fcials and road-builders should early become familiar. It will be the guid ing rule in road work in the future so far as the formation of road i'm proyement districts is concerned While it does not repeal any special road district acts or special acts re- iating to particular counties, it dis places all other general road statutes, and even in counties where a special law applies the petitioners may come fin under the Alexander Act, if they believe it is to the best interest of the community.
 The main feature of the new law embrace the manner of forming dis tricts, definition of real property, ' process of organization and assess ment. method of taking in adjacent territory after original district is form ed, proportion of assessed benefits to property value, provision for issuing bonds, manner of letting contracts prohibition of appeals for delay pur- poses, and relation of contractors to district after job is let In many re- spects the new law, which is a volum- inous affair, differs from the old law very radically, and is striking for it's pronounced leaning at all times, in fa- Yor of the formation of an improve ment district, as against the clamor of disgruntled property owners who might incline to "sit upon" an i'm provement merely because it cost them some money
 In this last regard the language of the act is worthy of reproduction. It says:
 This Act shall be liberally con- strued by the courts for the purpose of aiding and promoting the improve ment of public roads in Arkansas, and upon the trial of any case relating to the establishment of any district or the collection of any tax hereunder, after district has been established ny the county court, the presumption shall be in favor of the establishment of the district or the collection of the tax"
 The formation of road improvement districts is by either of two plans (1), on a petition to the county court by majority, in land value, acreage or number, of the property-owners of the affected district; CD, by the ap- plication of the county judge or any ten land owners within the proposed district to the state highway depart ment for estimates, maps, etc, after which the project is submitted to the land owners of the district, by petition. In both cases proper provision is made for the publication and court hearings to determine finally if the district shall be established All objections to the district must be filed in writing. and the county court. in determining the question of suffieiency of petition CTS, is guided by general tax records. Women may sign the petitions for the district, guardians may sign for wards, and trustees for estates
 Real property" or land" under the new law is defined as land, inn provements thereon, railroads, rights of-ways of same, tram-roads, etc, and all public buildings.
 The county courts order in estab- fishing district is final and binding, except by direct attack on appeal. No collateral attack is allowed, and prop. erty owners who do not appeal within 30 days, waive all such rights.
 All districts are governed by three commissioners, appointed by the county court, and when the board is organized it shall secure from the state highway engineer specific esti- mates of cost, plans, road materials. etc; unless, by judgment of the coun- ty court, it be deemed advisable to provide a special engineer, who must give $1,000 bond and whose plans are, finally subject to approval of the state highway engineer. Only county roads, or those that may hereafter be estab- iished as such, may be routed for inl- provement. Commissioners may issue IOL6S anu DOITOW money TOT preIlmf- nary work and incidental expenses such as engineering, etc, to be covered by later assessments.
 After plans are filed by the board with the county court, the latter shall appoint three assessors. who must meet in 30 days and organize, and whose assessment of benefits in the district against the several property owners must be filed with the county clerk. Misdescriptions of property or name of owner do not invalidate as sessment. After notice by publica, tion, the county court gives a hearine on the assessments and enters order All objections must be filed within 10 days to be valid; otherwise court order is binding on assessments.
 Outside lands benefited by the for nation of the district may be taker fin after original district is formed and road extensions may be mad, through same. This feature is par ticularly important. A re-adjustmen
 of assessment benefits may folloy
 such enlargement, or may be made an