New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-03-09

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visions as the legislature may enact therefor. The system
Of state roads SO ~deignated may be changed or added to,
from time to time, BY the State Highway Engineer. SUBJ
ject to the approval of the State Highway Commission. The
State Highway Engineer shall collect information with re-
ference to the mileage, character and condition of the high
ways and bridges in the several counties Of the state, and
shall investigate and determine the methods of road con-
struction and maintenance best adapted to the various Sec
tons of the state, having due regard to topography, natur-
al conditions, the availability of road building materials, the
prevailing traffic conditions and the ability of the counties
to meet the cost of building and maintaining roads and bridg-
es therein. He may, at all reasonable times, be consulted
by county and other officials having authority over high
ways and bridges, relative to any question affecting such
highways and bridges; and he may in like manner call on
county road officials and county surveyors for any informa-
ton or maps relative to the location, character, and con-
dition of the highways and bridges within their jurisdiction or
control, and any such official who shall fail to supply such
information when so called upon, shall be guilty of a mis-
demeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to
a fine of not less than ten dollars nor more than one hun
bred dollars. HI shall determine the character Of, and have
supervision over, the construction, repair and maintenance
of all state roads and bridges improved under the provisions
of this act, and shall prepare, or approve all plans and speci-
fications and estimates therefor. He shall report the pro-
ceedings of his office annually to the State Highway Com
mission, at such time as it may designate. Al monies )"
the state "Road Fund.- shall be expended only upon itemis-
ed vonehes approved BY the State Highway Engineer, filed
with the State auditor, and uarants dravn by the State
Anditor upon the State Treasurer.
Sec. 8. That whenever the county commissioners of
any county shall desire that any main Travelled road or roads
in such county included among those adopted by the State
Highway Commission as a system of state roads, shall be
improved or constructed under the provisions of this act,
written annlication shall be made by the county commissioners
to the State Highway Engineer for such Improvement or
construction, and for state aid therefor. If the county COM
commissioners of any county shall fail so to apply for state
aid during the year for which such aid is available, such county
shall thereby forfeit its right to its portion of state aid for that
year, and the funds apportioned to such county for such yeor
shall remain in and be a part of the state "Road Fund
for the succeeding year. If, upon receipt of such application,
the State Highway Commission shall be satisfied, after inves-
tgation, that the proposed. improvement should be made or un-
dertaken and that the county will be able to pay its portion of
the cost thereof and that state funds will be available to pay
the states portion of such cost, it may approve the same and
undertake such work of improvement in accordance with the
provisions of this act; and the said State Highway Engineer,
or one of his assistants, shall proceed to view said road or
part thereof proposed to be improved, and make all surveys,
plans, specifications and estimates of cost for its construction
out of such materials as may be decided upon by the said State
Highway Engineer; provided, that whenever, in the judg-
ment OF the State Highway L 0MtntSS0n. 1t IS desirable to pro-
coed with the improvement of any road or roads comprised in
the system Of state roads, for the improvement of which the
county commissioners of the county in which the Same is To-
Gated shall have failed or declined to make application as pro-
vided in this section, it shall be lawful for the State Highway
Engineer to proceed with the improvement of any such road or
roads without application from the said county commissioners,
and to pay the entire cost of such improvement from the por-
ton of the state "Road Fund.- made available under the pro-
visions of this act for expenditure wholly within the discretion
of the State Highway Commission and from the state appor-
tionment of funds under the act of Congress hereinafter re-
ferred to.
Sec. 9. That for Improvements to cost one thousand
dollars or less, it shall be discretionary with the State High
way Engineer, subject to the approval of the Commission, to
execute such work of Improvement or to allow the county to
do the work, on force account, or to let the same on contract;
but where the cost of the proposed improvement will exceed
one thousand dollars, it shall be the duty of the State Highway
Engineer to let the same on contract, after advertising for
bids, subject to the approval of the Commission. Such ad-
verhsement for bids shall be in accordance with such rules and
regulations as may be adopted therefor by such Commission,
and bids shall be received at such places and shall be made on
such forms and in such manner and accompanied by such guar
antee as may be prescribed by the said Commissions. The
board of county commissioners of the county in which said