River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-08-26
CHANGES IN STATE
HIGHWAY LAWS
Appropriation for Support of
Commission Is Cut $4,000.
COUNTIES TO STAND EXPENSE
New Amendment to the Wisconsin
Statute Provides That County
Must Pay for Surveys
and Plans.


Madison-Highway changes enact
ed by the legislature which just closed
are relatively few but important. The
solOns deemed it necessary to de-
crease the appropriation for the sup
port Of the state highway commits
sion from 100000 to $G5 900 per year.
The new amendment to the state high
way law provides that surveys and
plans shall hereafter be made by the
counties at county expense, but also
provides specifically that in case a
county board, or the committee of the
board dealing with state aid matters,
requests the state highway commits
sion to do 50, it may make the surveys
and plans as previously, and charge
the actual cost Of the work to the
county Plans for surveys already
made by the state commission will be
furnished free Of cost as formerly,
but no further surveys will be made
in any county until the commission is
authorized by it's committees to make
them in accordance with terms Of
7etter recently sent To the state aid
road and bridge committees.
Taken in connection with portions
OF the old law left unchanged and
the provisions of it modified by the
new law, a system Of state aid with
state supervision, much as in the past,
remains in effect The state highway
commission is given power to approve
plans and contracts and generally to
control construction about as former
~; the county highway commissioner
has charge Of the actual construction,
but both the state highway commits
sion and county highway commissions
III must act with and cooperate with
4 state aid road and bridge commit
tee elected by each county board,
which committee has supervisory con-
troll as to the general policy and CON
duct Of the work in each county.
The new law is not considered revo-
Iutionary or destructive. The principal
change is in the inclusion of a county
committee to control the work jointly.
The bin provides $785, 900 annually
for state aid to highways, instead Of
S1,200,000 as before
The percentage Of state aid paid on
bridges over six feet span was in
creased from 20 to g 1-3, the same as
roads. State and county aid for roads
and bridge construction in cities or
the fourth class is discontinued. The
power of a village board to vote taxes
is discontinued, and placed upon the
electors Of villages. Towns and vii
lagos under 100000 valuation may
vote two mills; between 100000 and
100000 valuation, one and one-half
mills; more than $1,000,00O, one mill.
Twice these amounts may be voted by
a three-fourths vote. Towns and vii
lagos may vote taxes this year up to
November 8, instead of September /.
The powers of counties to make road
improvements by a county board ac-
ton, dIsregarding the towns, are made
more specific If done in amounts Of
$4,000 or over, the state will pay 40
per cent and the county 60 per cent.
Specific power is given the county
boards to do county and state con-
struCtion, and 10 make friendly ar
rangements with towns, subscribers,
individuals and abutting property
owners to help pay the cost. County
boards are given the power to reduce
the application for state and county
aid from any town or village, regard
less of any valuation, to $4,000. if the
board should so vote. County tax limit
for all state aid purposes is reduced
from three to two mills. A county
state aid road and bridge committee
is created to e elected by the county
board to have general administrative
control Of state road and bridge con-
struction in each county. The limit
Of their per diem and expense is set
at $500 each per year.
Examination of candidates for cOun-
ty highway commissioner is done away
with, and the county board elects that
official, at the first election for one
year. thereafter for two year terms.
In the future counties will maintain
all roads built under the state high
way law. whether surfaced or only
graded, instead of maintaining only
the surfaced roads, as at present. This
applies to earth roads already built
as well as to be built Town chair
men are allowed TO make any repairs
to state highways which may be i'm
mediately necessary, and the county
shall pay for such repairs.
Governor Philip has appointed H.
p. Neyrick of Milwaukee as state edi-
tor under the printing board bill
Dassed at this session.
Wisconsin Patents.
Abraham L. Baer, Milwaukee, pipe;
Edwin J. Barrett, Sheboygan, chart
puzzle: Lynde and H. L. Bradley Mil
waukee, short circuit and retrieving