The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1917-03-30
New Nevada Highway
Law InSur6S Good Roads

of legislation ever enacted into law
of Nevada, is 3. the state highway
act which was passed by the legie-
lature creating a state highway de-
partment, providing for the employ
ment of a skilled highway engineer
tC supervise road construction, de-
claring a system of state highways
and making a special tax levy for the
current and succeeding years to IL
nance the undertaking.
The bill had been in process Of
formation for many weeks prior to
its Introduction and while it was
amended in slight particulars it was
written into the statutes almost ideu-
tically along the lines as first laid
down by the authors. Important con
cessions were made to counties not
touched by the highway fund, and by
! a further provision which gives ther
whatever proportion would Justly ac-
crue to them from the federal aid
extended to Nevada for highway con-
struction, the latter amounts to be
determined by the proportion which
their taxable wealth bears to the. to-
tai taxable wealth of the state.
Only three counties are left out Of
the highway system-Storey, Clark
and Lincoln.
The bill provides for the appoint
ment by the governor of three high
way directors who will receive a sal
airy of ten dollars per day for the
time actually devoted to their dutiea.
/ These three directors are removable
at the pleasure of the governor. Thev.
in turn, appoint the highway engi-
neer at an annual salary Of $4,000.
who may be removed at their pleas
ure
The highway engineer is given
| broad powers and is made the direct
ing head of the highway department
after giving a $4,000 bond. He is
given authority to employ his own
clerical and engineering assistants
and to lay out roads, determine the
manner of their Improvement and tc
make contracts under the direction
of the highway directors.
Beginning this year a special high.
way tax is levied upon all property in
the state, including the net revenues
from mines Of seven cents on the one
hundred dollars of valuation. Next
year and in the succeeding years the
highway tax will be ten cents on the
hundred dollars. In addition to the
state tax all counties through whicl
the highway system passes are re
CURED to levy a special highway tal
equal in amount to that levied by tht
state.
These revenues go into the state
highway fund and will be eypende,
by the highway department under di
rection of the engineer. The depart
ment is also authorized to direct ant
''NbNA l+'N ioStl btlN COllSLI utllhl 10
any county at the exclusive cost o
such county when funds are mad
/ available and request is made by tn
commissioners of such county.
It is not expected that any exten
= siye construction work will be don
: in the year 1917. In fact it is believ
| ed at this time that the entire yea
; will be devoted by the department
, and the engineer to making surveys
f relocating dangerous and expenslv
t stretches of roads, investigating roa
- materials, and in preparing plans an
- specifications for contracts that wi
e. be let next winter for work to be III
- Gertaken in 1918.
At least $325,OO0 and possibl
- 1900 will be at the command c
e the department in 1918 from state
S county and government sources.
4 1918 the sum will be much larger an
/ it is believed that in the year 191
: the work will be we'll under wa
V throughout the entire state.
4 1t is known at this time that Sc,
o eral of the counties contemplate raj
II ing funds by sale of bonds or by d
g rect taxation for special work in the
l. own limits under the direction
the department. These funds will !
placed at the disposal of the depar
ment, as the law permits for the e
pecial benefit of counties. these cou
II ties being of the opinion that far be
c. ter results could be obtained by pla
Il ing the work in the hands of cor
of expert engineers