The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1916-04-06
SUPREME COURT RENDERS M
PORTANT DECISION PERTAIN.
ING TO HIGHWAYS.
CFrom Fridays DallyJ


Tallahassee, Fla. March 2s, 1916,
Ed. Scott, Arcadia, Fla.
Supreme court in opinion filed to-
day sustains our cOntcnuon that 10
per cent. Of the couu'y licenses col
lected upon automobiles and other mo-
tor driven vehicles should be paid
over to the state road department.
T. f. WEST,
Attorney General
The last legislature passed an act
creating the state road department,
of which this, the first, congression-
al district. has the honor OF the chair
manship, in the person Of Mr.. Ed,
Scott OF this city. This law provided
for the appointment Of the board OF
Ave members, which is authorized to
appoint a road commissioner, and their
further duties is outlined in sections
4 to 10 Of the act, a sfollows.
The commissioner has not yet been
appointed for the reason that a ques-
ton Of the validity Of the act was
raised, because under another act Of
the same legislature, all Of the auto
licenses was placed at the disposal Of
the county commissioners OF the va
rious counties Of the state under their
regular road fund.
This decision will be hailed with
delight not only by the road boosters
Of the state, but by the boards Of com
missioners as well. The state road de-
partment should become the clearing
house" Of ideas and experiences Of the
county commissioners of the state.
Many boards of commissioners are
right now puzzllng over the intrica-
cies Of IA contemplated system of road
ties. uncertain as to the ACCESSIBILITY |
or practicahility of the plans suggest |
cd by their engineer, who will gladly |
avail themselves Of the opportunity |
TO have the state highway engineer |
give them the benefit Of his judgment /
upon the questions at issue.
Every automobiles in the state F.
should see that his license fec is paid .
that thi, work may 90 on mimpcdcd, /
for the emancipation Of the state
from the great belts Of sand or water
that isolatc~ the road systems Of the
various counties. which will never 10 f.
accomplished In any other way than
statewide direction and effort.
Tu tho thinking citizen in any "a.
nr.rr FOO life I'm our state the adyau.
u-o of % connected system Of high.
WAYS must hr apparent. Whether 10y
'ho maxim. Of home market for
'hc farmers produce, or profitable
employment Of the man employed in
'h" garages Of the state, every citizen
~ Florida win be directly benefited
los the work Of this department.
General Duties of Department.
sec. /. 1t shall hc the duty Of the
department tu collect data and infor.
nation as 10 all roads in the state, and
where practicable have maps and platS
thereof made; to investigate ana col
lcct data ana information as to the
best methods and materials for road
building and repair to investigate and
gather information as to suitable ma
tcrial for road building and repairing
in the different localities Of this state;
and To compile all such data and IN.
formation and furnish the same free
Ia Ia. mi 90 lao
several counties, and the public
Sec. . The department shall as
often as practicable have the Road
Commissioner or an assistant, visit the
several counties and inspect the roads
therein and the methods of road CON
and repair and the materials
used in building and repairing roads
10y the county commissioners therein,
and make reports thereof to the de-
Iartmcnt. All their re ords books,
contracts, machinery, implements ma
t"riaIs, properties and premises under
ia" control or jurisdiction Of the sew.
crul boards of county commissioners
# III" several counties, and the con-
or repair Of roads shall, at
lll times, Ice subject to inspection 10y
The State Road Department. and shall
be- submitted 10y such county commits
'loncr for Inspection, tn the State Road
commissioner or such ass istant as
may be- detailed to make such inspec- !
ton. The county commissioners If {
hc several counties in the state shall o
make and file with the department
quarterly reports Of and detailed q
,tatcm,ut of all money, expended ON
such work. such report, and state !
ncnt> shall be- made in such form as Z
HE depaartmcne may prescribe and \
'hall be- filed with the department not :
alter than ten days after the last day Il
# the quarter. a