Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-07-01

make a study of tie question, and re
port. with recommendations at it's
next session. If such commission were
t. be appointed / should be glad to
give it the benefit Of every assistance
which the Office could render.
/ Road legislation in any state. to be
comprehensive and fully effective, will
naturally divide itself into two very
closely related parts; First, that part
which will deal with the state and its
jurisdiction and participation; ana
second, that part which will deal
with the counties or other local subdi-
visions and their jurisdiction and par
ticipation. There are certain funda
mental principles which should be
embodied in each part
The state jurisdiction and participa-
ton should be definite, adequate to its
purposes, and accompanied by provis-
ion for an organization and state
funds with which to exercise its jur
lisdiction. The organization of state
4 highway department should be such as
to eliminate, as far as practicable, pol
itical influences. This end can prob
ably best be accomplished by having Il
4 partially ex-oficio and partially ap-
/ pointive state highway commission,
either non-paid or paid only a nom
inal compensation, with reimburse
ment for expenses officially incurred.
The duties of such commission should
be to shape the policy of the state
highway department and to elect 4
i state highway engineer on whom
would be imposed the active duties OF
+ the department The state highway
engineer should be selected purely on
the basis of his qualifications for the
, office He should hold office during
the pleasure of the sttae highway com
mission and should be paid a salary to
/ be fixed by the state highway commits
sion in such sum as might be necessary
+ to secure the services of thoroughly
competent man. The success or fail
ure of the state highway department
/ will largely depend on the efficiency of
the state highway engineer. In so far
as the state constitution will permit,
/ the state highway department, through
the state highway engineer, should
have power to let contracts and to
supervise road construction work, if
necessary, to initiate road improve
ments in the several counties, and to
maintain or supervise the maintenance
OF all roads built with the aid of state
funds Also, if constitutionally per-
missible the cost of road construction
work in which the state might partic-
ipate should be jointly borne by the
state and the county, and a similar di-
vision of the cost of maintenance
might be applied.
It is realized, however. that the sug-
gestions contained in the two sentences
next above are probably prohibited by
the constitution of Georgia. In add
ton to the fundamental provisions
above sGgg ested, an efficient state high
way law would, of course, embody 9th
er equally necessary auxiliary fea
lures.
The law relating to the jurisdiction
and anticipation of counties or other
local political subdivisions should seeF
to have as few road officials as posi-
Bile, consistent with efficiency; to elm
mate all petty political influences; anC
to require that highway work be done
under competent engineering super
vision. Each county should have
, competent road engineer, if its popula
ton, taxable valuation, and road mil
, cage is sufficient to justify the employ
ment of such engineer Where coun
ty is not able to employ an engineer
by itself, provision might be mad
/ whereby two or more counties nigh
|, together employ the services of com
Apetent engineer, each paying jus
3As6Rs ...nf bis salary This need fO