The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1919-04-10

tary Of Agriculture and in accordance
with rules and regulations made bv
him. -
The foregoing quoted parts Of the
Act Of Congress show how carefully
guarded is the use Of the Congress
slonal appropriation. Also, show the
great responsibility put upon the three
county commissioners, hereinafter re-
ferred to.
SPECIALLY QUALIFIED ENGI-
NEERS.
Under Chapter 176 Of the Acts of
1919, Laws of Mississippi, the Boards
OF Supervisors are to appoint Three
Commissioners, who are qualified
electors and real estate owners etc.
Subject to the approval Of the Boards
OF Supervisors, said Commissioners
are lst. To determine what roads are
to be constructed ETC., out of the pro-
eeeds of any bond sale, authorized bv
law. End. To let all contracts for
construction, ETC., in the manner now
provided by law for letting contracts
Tor public works. 3rd. To employ
competent engineer to survey and
lay out such roads as they shall de-
termlne upon. 4th. Such engineer
shall make an estimate of the cost
ETC., Of such highway, for each sep
arate mile covered by such survey.
and to report such to said Commits
s1oners. This, too, before contracts
are let for the construction Of the
proposed roadway. 4th. To either
reject or adopt the survey and esti-
mates made by said engineer. If re-
Jected to order another survey. 5th.
To report the same to the Board of
Supervisors, if they adopt the Engi-
neer's report. Thereupon such Board
orders the same spread on its min
utes and make an order adopting such
survey, and estimate so adopted BY
said Commissioners. 9Th. II is ex-
pressly provided, however, that all
such acts of the Commissioners shall
be subject to ratification or rejection
by Board Of Supervisors.
A careful exmination of the laws in
force, bearing on hard bed road con-
struction, will show two schemes.
One scheme is entirely under the con-
troll of the Counties or Separate Road
Districts in such counties but no Aid
is obtainable from the congressional
appropriation. This scheme falls un-
der the provisions of Chapter 176
Acts OF Mississippi Legislature, for
year 1914. The other scheme, is that
which brings into corporation the
Federal Aid Road Act", with State
Highway Departments, and Counties
or Road Districts, acting under Chap
ter 176 above named. Thus cooper
ating the Congressional Appropria-
tion is obtainable and not otherwise.
Thus, too, the whole scheme has three
well devised checks, whereby best re-
suits may be obtained, to-wit: Sur
vey, plans and estimates approved by
the Commissioners and a Board of
Supervisors, then passed on and APP
proved by the State Highway Depart
ment, which furnishes rules in aid Of
the common purpose, and brings into
play its Engineers etc, and finally
passed on and approved by the Secre-
tary Of Agriculture.
Again, after all the above has been
done under the second scheme, the
County Commissioners, Board of SUI
pervisors, either approve or reject the
work done by contractor or contrac-
tors, the State Highway Department
must do the same, and at last the
Secretary of Agriculture must do So
A rejection by either put the matter
of compliance with terms Of contract
up to the contractor, who is under
special bond. Operating, then, UNI
der the "Federal Aid Road Act, is
undoubtedly not only the surest way
of getting best road construction, but
cuts the expense to the county or DIS
trict, voting bonds, to not exceeding
fifty per centum.
A great responsibility, then, rests
on the County Commissioners, for
they are charged with the duty OF
managing and supervising the con-
struction etc, Of the projected road
way or roadways. If they go wrong
the Board Of Supervisors can reject
If the Board Of Supervisors and Com
missioners go wrong, then the State
| Highway Department has a veto
Finally the Secretary Of Agriculture
can throw the whole back upon the
Icontractor, or contractors to be SET
right. The public interest as well as
| that of the taxpayer is thus thirdly
safeguarded.
II was the expectation of the writer
Of this article to have included th'
important matters Of cost, bond issues
! and taxation to pay interest annually
| on bonds which may be issued, as wei
| as each serial bond, as it natures an
nually. It will be seen, though, tina
the space devoted to getting what !
therein contained before the publ
4 will not permit Of extension. Hence
| Il will be necessary to devote a tlna
| article to appear next week to the las
nayned mafters. Respectfully,
]. McC. MARTIN,
Chairman information Committee.