The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-08-16
SOME OBSERVATIONS ABOUT
THE ROAD LAW AND ROAD
WORK


(The following was set in type for
Mondays paper but was crowded out
and is used today with only slight
change. At the meeting Monday Of
this week the board took steps to
comply with the law requiring pub
LEGATION of detail statements of dis
bursements.-Editor).
1t is fair to assume that the road
law for Robson county passed by
the last Legislature was made to be
observed. If the road board does not
take the law as it's guide it would
be interesting to know what is to
guide the board.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS was publish
ed bare record of the list of bills
paid by the Robson county road COM
missinners at their regular monthly
meeting last Monday. This is a
most unsatisfactory record, but is the
best that can be obtained from the
minutes. Apparently, if one wants
to know what any bill was paid for
he must GO before the board and ask
about that particular bill. The min
utes do not enlighten one. 1t would
seem that the minutes should show
what a bill is paid for, as we'll as the
amount and to whom paid. Section
SO of the road law provides that on
the first day of each month, or with
in 5 days thereafter, it shall be the
duty of the secretary of the road
commission to publish in one issue
of some newspaper published in the
county a detailed statement setting
forth in itemized form all receipts
and disbursements made by the road
commission for the preceding month,
and a copy shall be posted at the
court house door and spread upon
the minutes. This shall be paid for
out of the road funds. Failure to
comply with this section shall be
deemed a misdemeanor on the part
of the secretary.
Evidently this section of the road
law has been overlooked.
Section % provides that the COM
mission shall have prepared plans
and specifications for the dragging,
upkeep and repair of each section Of
road, specifying when and how each
section is to be dragged and gone
over for filling holes, -leveling, etc.
Section "a provides that the commits
sion, as soon as practicable after
preparation of plans and specifica
tons, shall advertise once a week
for two weeks in some newspaper
published in the county that at time
and place specified in the advertise
ment the commission will meet to
receive bids for the dragging and up
keep OF such sections of road as are
specified in the advertisement. And
further: 1t is not necessary to wait
until all roads have been laid off be-
lore advertising for bids, but bids
may be called for as soon as sections
have been laid off in any district or
part of district.
Has that been done? Thousands
OF dollars have been wasted in the
county heretofore by building roads
and then leaving them to take care
OF themselves. Some stretches of
road have been improved since the
present road commission took charge.
has the law in regard to their up
keep been complied with?
Section 81 provides that the road
commission must put up and main
tain neat and substantial sign posts
at the intersection of all public roads.
giving the names of the most impor-,
tant points to which such roads lead
IN each direction, with the distances
therefrom to such points, and place
mile posts on all public roads Iced
ing. to market towns in the county,
giving the distances. If the road
commission shall fail to erect the
mile posts and sign posts specified
In this section within a reasonable
time after assuming office, each mem
Der OF the commission so failing in
ms duty shall be guilty of a misde-
meanor and may be fined or impris-
oned. 10
This is a very important section
that should be complied with. What
is a reasonable time?
These are only a few points. 9th.
ers may be noted later. No un.
friendly criticism of the road COM
mlssioners is meant. They are good
men who are anxious to do the most
possible with the road money al
their command. But it is right and
proper to point out the provisions of
Inc law. If the law is complied with
strictly and the desired results are
not obtained, then the law will be
to blame, and not the commissioners
1t is for their protection as we'll as
Tor their guidance. If they comply
with 81 the provisions of the law
then they will not be subject to crit
1clsm if things don't work out right
The road law has been changed SC
often in Robson that it has come
to be expected that every Legislature
Will give the county new and diff.
ferent law. But no law is going ia
give satisfactory results If II ;s 70
garded as a dead letter and it's pro-
visions are not complied with. The
law should be given a fair trial
Only in that way can it be determin-
ed whether or not this whole matter
should be re-opened when the next
Legislature meets.