The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-03-06
HIGHWAY BOARD
WILL ORGANIZE
Engineering Department Heads OF
State Institutions Members.
Automobile License Fees.

The State.
Immediately upon the appointment
Gy Gov. Manning of the two addi-
tional members to the State highway
commission, meeting will in all prob
ability be called to organize the new
department The commission will be
composed of five members, the heads
. of the engineering departments of the
University of South Carolina. Clemson
college and the Citadel and two mem
Ders to be appointed by the governor.
These will serve two years These
shall employ a competent highway
engineer. The commission was Great,
ed that the State might qualify for
federal aid in the construction OF post
roads, as provided in an act of the
national congress, July II, 1916
South Cardinals apportionment is
slightly in excess of $1,0o0,0O0 to be
procured in fve annual installments
the amounts each year to be increas-
1ed by $4,000. The first installmen'
is to be $4,000. Automobile license
Tees will provide for State funds nee
-essary to qualify for federal aid. These
will be levied and collected in lieu OF
county or city licenses. The amount
20 be collected is Is cents per horse
power. The bill is the free confer
-ence report, adopted in compromise
of several pending highway commits
sion measures.
Section l. That a highway depart
-ment for the State of South Carolina
is hereby created and established, the
same to consist of a State highway
commission and State highway en-
gineer. The highway commission shall
he composed of the senior professors
sof civil engineering of the University
of South Carolina, Of Clemson Agr1-
cultural college, and Of the Military
college of the State of South caro-
Tina, and two other members who
shall be appointed by the governor
Tor term of two years. The mem
bers of this said highway commission
shall serve without pay, but eacn
member thereof shall be allowed his
actual and necessary expenses incur
red in the discharge of his duties un-
der the provision Of this act.
Sec. 2. AS soon as practicable at-
der passage of this act the State high
Ray commission shall appoint State
highway engineer, who shall be
-com etent civil engineer. skilled and
experienced in highway construction
and maintenance, and the design and
construction of highway bridges; the
selection of the said engineer may
zSe based On civil service examina-
zion under rules and regulations to
be made and promulgated by the
State- highway commission. The State
highway engineer, before enterins
upon the duties of his office, shall
56le with the Secretary OF State BOND
TO the State of South Carolina in the
gum of five ($5,0o0) thousand dol
lars conditional upon the faithful per-
:Iormance of the duties OF his ONCE.
said bond to be approved by the
State highway commission. The said
engineer shall be subject to removal
rat the discretion of the State high
xay commission.
Sec. 3. The State highway engin-
-eer may appoint upon the recon-
rnendation of the State highway COM
mission not more than two assistant
: engineers, as may be necessary TOT
tne proper conduct of the work OF
the said highway commission; these
appointments may be based upon
civil service examination or other
such regulations as the said highway
commission shall prescribe, and they
NAV also employ clerk and stenos"
xapher, who shall perform the neces-
sary clerical work of the State hlgh-
way engineers Office and serve as sec
Eetary of the State highway commls-
Eion.
Duties of commission.
Sec 4. The object and purpose o.
sshis State highway commission shai!
ne 10 instruct, assist and cooperate
vyith road authorities in the va1lous
COMMITTEES of the State. and the I'M
movement and construction OF high
ways in the said counties, and 70
tudy the system of road building
and maintenance in the various
States and make investigations ana
experiments to determine the metn-
sods and materials best suited to ROAD
construction and maintenance IN the
different sections of the State; and 10
prepare, publish and distribute oui-
Jetins and reports giving results OF
such Investigations. The State high
way commission shall make annual
reports to the general assembly OF the
work of the State highway depart
Ment.
Sec. 5. The duties of the State
highway engineer shall be to furnish
engineering assistance to the various
county authorities upon their request
and when requested by the. road au-
xhorities in any county he shall make
or have made by his assistants, sur
yeys for roads and bridges. and pre-
mare plans and specifications and esti-
mates of cost for the construction or
Improvement of such roads ana
bridges: and if further requested oy
abe county authorities and he snail