The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-08-12
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
HIGHWAYS
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Continued from Page One.)
in each county and the fund created
by this levy is paid to the counties on
order Of the commissioner Of highways
to be used ON the construction of state
roads only. A liberal Interpretation
OF the law has been adopted and the
use Of this. fund for building bridges on
state roads as well as for surfacing
and grading highways has been per-
mitted The commissioner is required
by the law to issue such funds to the
various counties when they have com
piled with certain sections of the law
calling for definite plans of proposed
work to be filed with him and have
made positive showing of their inten-
tion to be bound by the law and to fol-
low a definite plan Of construction
Motor Licenses.
The collection OF motor licenses is i
in the hands of the commissioner Of
highways and system of fees for
such collections is established by law,
all taxes for motor vehicles being paid
10 this office and no ad valorem tax
being collected, except for vehicles
propelled by electricity. Ten per cent
of the amount collected for motor Ii
censes is remitted to the state treas.
urer where it is credited to the gener
al revenue funds of the state and the
other 80 per cent is remitted to the
counties where it is divided between
the county and the cities within the
boundaries, twenty-five per cent OF the
amount remitted to the county for il.
censes collected on account OF cars
lowned within the limits of Incorporate
ed towns and cities being paid to the
treasurers Of such municipalities and
the balance retained by the couns.
treasurer and deposited in fund for
the maintenance Of the state roads
Dragging by Contract.
The county commissioners contract
the work Of dragging the designated
state roads and pay for same out of
the fund thus established, making pay
ments on the basis Of the trips made
by the drag over each district. It is
the intention Of the highway depart
ment to have such dragging done after
every rain and the commissioners are
meeting with a very pleasing measure
Of success, the greatest difficulty be-
ing the finding Of men to do the work
at any price. 1t is believed that this
trouble will decrease as the benefits
Of regular dragging become evident
Work Carefully Done.
Inspections made by the highway
commissioner over various parts Of
the state show that in general, the
work is being carefully and systemat-
ically done and that a large percent
age of the designated mileage is in
good condition for motor traffic. The
high rains and excessive floods during
the month of June did considerable
damage and as these floods came dur
ing wheat harvest, the work OF repair
ing damages is going forward slowly
The principal difficulties in the way Of
direct highway connections across the
state are the streams flowing in allu-
! vial flats, where the expense of con
struction of adequate bridges is be-
yond the means of the communities
The Arkansas, Cimarron, South Cana
. dian and parts of the upper reaches of
the North Canadian river present
problems that are difficult Of solution
. and adequate openings especially
where such a stream is entirely within
the bounds of one county.
Causes Of Delay.
Another difficulty that causes delay
\ in the construction of roads and
: bridges in the counties embraced in
VI the portions Of the state within the
boundaries of Indian Territory as il
was before statehood is the large pro
N portion Of Indian land that is exempt
from taxation. Large bodies of sucl
n land in many counties cut down the
available resources without reducing
the expense of courts, administration
etc, and make it extremely difficult tt
secure funds to build roads ant
bridges.
Big Mileage in Condition.
1t is estimated that of the total des
ignated mileage in the state of state
roads, approximately 5000 have beel
put in dragable condition and that al
additional 1000 miles will be put il
dragable condition before Decembe
81, 1916. No particular attempt ha
tion rather to put as large miIeag
to permanent grade. it being the inten
tion rather to put as large milega
~ as possible in good condition to handl
/. traffic, building all structures Of pei