Arizona republican., 1917-04-03
GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT STARTED.

briefly provides the following steps.
First, the presentation of a petition
to the board of supervisors signed by
fifteen per cent of the taxpayers of
asking that the county issue bonds
for the construction or improvement of
highways
Second, that at least 80 days be-
fore such election the board of super
visors shall appoint a highway COM
mission of taxpaying electors who
shall have full charge of thoroughly
studying the question Of the perman-
ent highways needed; work out and
present to the people complete plans
for such highways, make all neces-
sary surveys, and make a complete
and public report regarding the high
ways proposed at least two weeks be-
fore the date appointed for the cleo
ton This commission, should the
bonds carry, shall have charge of pre-
pairing all specifications in connec-
ton with the proposed highways ad-
vertising for bids and all business of
whatsoever nature in connection with
the investigation of roads, shall have
the full supervision of the construc-
ton of said roads, the appointment of
the engineer or engineers necessary in
such construction or in preliminary
work. All contracts entered into by
the commission for highway improve
ment shall be let, after public adver-
tisement, to the lowest responsible
bidder They shall have the right,
however, to let contracts in sums of
not to exceed $1,000 without public
bids
Funds Carefully Guarded
Third. The act further provides that
all proceeds from the sale of such
highway bonds shall be placed in a
highway improvement fund to be paid
out by the treasurer of the county
upon the order of the highway COM
mission.
Fourth The commission shall make
and file with the board of supervisors
every six months, a detailed state
ment Of their proceedings showing the
amount of money in the improvement
fund, the amount of expenditures
made, contracts entered into, and all
other information of general interest.
Fifth. The highway commissioners
shall serve without compensation but
shall be paid their actual and neces-
Sary expenses in connection With
said work. Each commissioner shall
the bonds should not carry their terms
automatically expire. Any vacancies
on the commission shall be filled by
| the board of supervisors. And each
commissioner shall give bond to the
county in such sum as the board of
supervisors may provide.
| 1t will be seen by the foregoing pro-
| visions that the proposed law is a
constructive, comprehensive plan to
/ get good roads under strict business
like methods.
Supervisors Ready to Act
! The board of supervisors have stated
I that they are prepared to appoint the
| commission promptly if they can Sc
cure five men of the right character,
ability and public spirit to serve, and
sometime today the petitions will be
! placed in circulation throughout the
/ county.
! The committee who has been doing
/ this preliminary work has been great
! ~ helped in their Investigations by
the complete report of the advisory
highway commission who had in
charge the same question of perman-
ent roads through a bond issue in 1914.
In 1914 the question was not brought
to an issue at the election because of
legal defects. These have been cured
Dy the law recently passed anu MARI
copa county is now prepared to go
ahead and construct these permanent
highways if the people want them.
The old highway commission unani-
mously approved an issue Of bonds OF
s1,500,000, and the present COMMITTEES
which has been working on the tenta :
tive plans feel that this sum would be
necessary to supply a system of trunk
line roads throughout the county Sc
that all farmers may be within easy
access of a permanent highway OF
which to move their products to mar
ket at a minimum cost.
Bonds Would Sell Readily
Dwight b. Heard said yesterday II
connection with, this matter, that ow-
ing to the exceptionally high credit OF
'Maricopa county he thought it was
quite possible the bonds might sell a
as low an interest rate as Az pei
cent, and stated that in a recent con-
ference with the representative of one
of the large insurance companies, he
was advised that they would certainly
sell on a per cent basis and quite
possibly might be placed on a AZ pc
cent basis.
There seems to be a general feeling
that the long needed good road system