The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-05-01
WASF lINGTON NEWS -
OOSSlP BY caAaLEs BROOKS SMITH.
BY CHARLES BROOKS SMITH.
10y coNDo)

~ county engineers, tests materials
proposed to be used in improvements
dependent IN whole or in part on Fed.
eral funds, has the power to inyesti.
gate any or all expenditures made by
the various counties OF the state for
road construction and maintenance
and to cause prosecution of officials
falling to adopt proper methods of con
SSstructon and maintenance or to pro-
vide proper supervision and inspec-
ton.
The commission is required to pre-
pare at the expense Of the county
plans and specifications and estimates
CT cost TO: the improvement of any
public highway of the state when re-
Quested by the local officials having
Jurisdiction.
County-Ccunty road and bridge adj.
T1lnist:ation is invested in a county
cour: composed of elective members,
DESIGNATED az judges The county clerA
Is clerk CT the court and the county
sheriff is ex officlo tax collector and
treasurer. The county court has the
power to fin tax rates and provide for
the collection thereof and to enter into
contracts fol road and bridge i'm
provement.
The county engineer or county su-
poryisor, appointed by the county court
fot term of two years, Is required
to be practical road builder. He 10
executive officers Of the court in all
matters pertaining to road and bridg.
construction and maintenance. In mat
ters concerning class A roads he is
subject to the rules and regulations
and orders of the state road commits
sion. He Is also required to assist the
state road commission in Its CT mpaign
of creating public interest in road i'm
1Tovement. It is the duty of the coun-
ty engineer or county supervisor at
the end of each fiscal year to ascertain
In and report in writing to the county
court the amount of money necessary
to open and ker0 in repair all main
| county roads and the roads OF each
mGgiSerial district during the ensuing
fiscal year. The court may amend the
report as 1t may think proper Howev.
er the sections Of the report showing
the amount required for maintenance
OF class A and class B roads are used
by the court in laying tax levies for
road purposes.
The county may be divided into sec
lions and road patrolman appointed
for each magisterial district who Is
required to patrol daily, except Sun
day, the roads of his district and to
| execute such repairs as may be nee
essary and to superintend persons per-
forming statutory labor on the road.
Classification, Control and Pro-
cedure.
the 81 O24 miles Of public road in
West Virginia are for the purpose of
tIing responsibility for construction
and maintenance divided into two
roads.
CLASS A RoADS-These comprise
about $500 miles Of roads selected
by the county courts of each county,
subject 10 the approval Of the State
highway commission. These comprise
two or more main roads Of the county,
ana all roads selected must connect
with similar roads In adjoining coun-
te's. Other main roads may, on re.
quest OF the county court, be added TO
TINS system from time to time with
the approval Of the State road COM
mission.
Roads Of this group are improved
with Joint funds provided by the state
and county, the State funds for road
purposes at the disposal of the road
commission being allotted among the
counties on the basis Of class A md
cage In each county, conditioned, how
ever, that the county provides an equal
amount. The roads Of this group are
improved in accordance with plans
and specifications furnished at the
cost OF the county and approved by
the state road commission. Improve
ment is executed by the county subject
TO supervision by the state road COM
mission or its authorized agent. The
work OF construction may be done by
force account, convict labor or by con-
tract.
When by convict labor, conyicts NOT
less than ten in number are furnished
under contracts entered into by the
lstate hoard OF cnntrni and tha orun4S