Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-03-14
GOOD ROADS TO
BECOME REALITY
'Iost Complete Road Law
Ever Made in the
State.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
VIII Enable the State to Ac-
tually Contract Good
Highways,

OKLAHOMA CITY, March ID
Good roads in Oklahoma are to be-
come a reality according to the cham
pions of the administration roads
and highways bill, which is the last
big measure to become law at TINS
session of the legislature.
The bill provides a comprehensive
scheme of state and county ROAD
building. The present department OF
highways is retained and Is to be in
charge Of a highway commissioner,
but the duties of the latter officer
are considerably changed and the
jurisdiction of the department is
broadened,
Important excerpts from the new
law are as follows:
The duties Of the commissioner Oh
highways shall be:
First: To have the supervision or
all matters relating to public ROADS
and highways to prepare standard
plans and specifications for the con-
struction of roads and bridges and
furnish same with cost to any road
official in the state; to inspect ana
report upon any plans or Speclnca-
tions for highway construction II re
uucstcd to do 50 by any road otilclal,
to collect information and compile
statistics relative to the mileage, char
aCter, conditions and cost OF conStruc-
tion and maintenance of the hgh-
WAYS of the state to investigate and
determine the methods of road con-
struction best adapted to the various
sections of the state; and to establish
standards for the construction and
maintenance of highways and bridges
i'm the various counties, giving due re-
gard to the topography natural con-
ditiOns, character and aVallaDlllty OF
road building material. The commits
sioner may at all reasonable times,
be consulted by county or township
officers having authority over hlsh-
ways and bridges, relative TO any
question involving such highways and
bridges; and the commissioner may
in like manner call on such county
or township officials for any informa-
ton or assistance they may render
i'm the performance of their duties,
and they shall furnish such informa-
ton when so requested.
Second: To furnish such engineer
ing service in drainage, sanitation
and other public improvements as
may be required by any department
of the state, including the passing
upou prospects and plans for munlc-
ipal water supplies when requested
by any municipality; provided the
actual and necessary expenses OF any
such examination or the expense con-
nected with any work away from
the seat of government shall be borne
and paid by the municipality, county
township, or persons making the re
quest and receiving the benefits OF
the investigation.
Third: To furnish engineering ad-
vice and report upon such matters
as in the Judgment of the commits
el, "a n Va Inc tn the npOnle.
Fourth: To keep complete and
systematic record of all acts of the
department of highways and to an
nually report the same to the COVER
nor by the first day of December,
which report shall be, at the option
of the governor, printed as a pubic
document.
Fifth: To have general supervision
of the various county and township
officers named in this act in the
performance of the duties herein en-
Joined, and said commissioner shall
have full power and authority to en-
force the provisions of this act
Sixth: To cooperate with the Fed
eral Government in all matters per-
tanning to the improvement OF pubic
highways: and all funds provided by
congress and appropriated for the inn
provement of the public highways in
this state, shall be expended under
the supervision Of the commissioner
of highways.
The commissioner of highways is
hereby authorized to appoint state
engineer, who shall be a civil engi-
neer Of established reputation and
qualified in road and bridge construc-
tion. hydraulic and sanitary engi-
neering and irrigation and drainage,
and who shall perform all the duties
assigned to the state engineer under
the irrigation laws of this state and
as provided in chapter 40, of the
revised laws of Oklahoma. Said COM
missioner may appoint an assistant
state engineer, who shall be a COM
petent draughtsman, and one stenog-
rapher. who shall be secretary to the
commissioner, which said positions
are hereby created.
The commissi oner Of highways sal
larry shall be twenty-four hundred tSI-
100000 dollars per annum, payable
monthly; the salary of the state en-
gineer, shall be twenty-one hundred
(s21OO.00) dollars per annum, pay
able monthly; the salary of the as
sistant state engineer shall be fifteen
hundred 1,500.00) dollars per an
mum, payable monthly: and the sal
airy of the stenographer shall be one
thousand (s1,000) dollars per an
mum, payable monthly. The salaries
and expenses of said department of
highways shall be paid upon vouch-
ers itemized and sworn to against ap-
propriations made therefor as pro-
vided by law.
The board of county commissioners
of each county. within thirty days
from the taking of this act. or as
soon thereafter as practicable, shall
employ competent engineer to be
known as the county engineer, whose
tenure of office may be terminated
by the said board of county commits
sioners or by the said department OF
highways, who shall perform the du-
ties as hereinafter provided. Said
county engineer shall receive the
same compensation now fixed by law
for county surveyors, and all services
performed as county engineer under
the provisions of this act, and all ac-
tual and necessary expenses incident
thereto, shall be paid out of the
county road construction fund.
There is hereby levied annually an
ad yalorem tax on one-fourth Of one