Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-02-24
Outline of Road Code
Enacted By Legislature

Following is an outline of the road
legislation enacted at the recent session
of the legislature, one bill governs state
highways and another county roads
both being the result of compromise
action on the numerous road bills in
troduced.
State Highways
sa1ouse' Bill No. 502s governs Che con
struction and repair OF state high
ways: Under this act the state high
way department is created and con
sists of the state highway commits
sion, and the saate highway engin-
eer. The state highway commission
shall consist of three members to be
appointed within thirty days after
the passage of this act, by the gov
ernor, one from each congressional
district of the state; these commission
ers to hold office for a period of three
years. Each commissioner is to be al.
lowed a salary of 5000 and his actual
travelling and necessary expenses. Each
commissioner is to give a $4,000 bond
that he will be faithful in the perfor
nance OF his duties. The commission.
ers are to appoint the state highaw en-
gineer, who shall be qualified by train.
ing and experience, and is TO receive a
salary not to exceed $4,000. He is to
give bond of $4,000, conditional upon
the faithful performance of his duties.
The state highway commission shall
employ snch other employees and as
sistants to the state highway engineer
as it may be necessary for carrying on
the work. The commission shall have
general supervision of all matters per
tanning to the construction of state high.
ways, and shall adopt the general policy
of the highway department. 1t shall
construct a system of state highways,
snd shall cooperate with the Federal
government to that end
The state highway engineer shall keeT
careful system according, and under
the direction of the commission shall
investigate and determine the methods
of road construction best adapted to the
various counties, taking into considera
tion the character of the roads and the
road building material. All improve
ment involving an expenditure u Iess
than $4,000 may be undertaken by the
highway department, and may be done
I by day labor, but all projects costing
1 $4,000 or over must be let by contract
( to the lowest bidder. The state highway
engineer shall make an annual repor1
setting forth all the work that has beer
done by the department during the year
the amount of money expended, thu
highways and roads constructed ant
maintained under the direction Of th,
commission
The state highway engineer shall ac
as an advisor to and may be consulted
by all the county courts in the stat,
in matters of road construction ant
4 maintenance, and may be called upoi
! to furnish specifications for any piec,
\ of proposed road improvement in an,
county, the county furnishing the neces
sary data, such specifications TO be
furnished free Of cost to the counties
1.-THE engineer may call upon the count,
court for information and plans IN cen
i nection with the construction and main
tenance of public highways, and an,
4 county court refusing or negleeting I
4 furnish the same shall be subject TO
4 fine.
Il The State Highway Commission ma
contract highways by means Of eonvic
labor. All construction work done b
counties upon state highways shall b
subject TO the supervision of the Stat
Highway commission.
!, State Highway funds shall be e.
peEded upon no other than state higi
ways The maintenance of the improl
led state highways shall be carried Q
Jointly by the state and the eountie
Through which the state highways pas
" Each year tax levy of one-fouri
mill shall be assessed against all pr