The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1919-07-05

The state OF Michigan. as the result
Of highway Improvement legislation
passed by the Legislature In the ex-
traordinary session Just ended, will.
within a few years, have one Of the
finest state systems OF highways in
the country The legislature. in the
special session. built up the legal ma
chinery for the expenditure in good
roads work OF the s50.o0O,OO0 which
the voters OF Michigan have authorize
ed raised by bonding the common
wealth.
Business men and manufacturers.
prominent farmers, stock men and
others interested in the industrial de-
yelopment OF the state, declare that
the expenditure OF this s50,000.000
along lines decided upon by the state
legislative body will bring Michigan
sharply TO the fore among progressive
states, will aid 1t commercially, will
build VI its cities and rural districts.
increase it's wealth and population
and help develop its wonderful re-
sources to an extent hitherto almost
undreamed.
The legislature. during the extra
ordinary session. adopted rs new
laws from list of 3S bills introduce
ed. included among them being six
bills designed TO speed highway de-
velopment and provide highway main
tenance. or the 26 laws adopted Is
bills were introduced by the lower
house and III by the senate. All were
recommended by Governor Albert L.
Sleeper, as required by law for spec
ial sessions. However, three new
laws recommended by the governor
failed OF passage, one providing for
motion picture censorship, one to IL
cense practical nurses and one to
substitute three-man commission for
the present elective highway commits
sioner. Objection to passage OF the
latter bill was made on the grounds
that 1t would place in the hands of
the governor too much political pow
er in the appointment to the head OF
the states highway affairs three high
ly paid officials.
The six highway bills passed fol-
low:
Creation OF a highway improve
ment loan board to issue the $50.0O0,-
600 bonds, authorized by the electors
for construction of trunk lines, fed
eral and state reward highways and
bridges, bonds to be issued at not less
than par, bearing interest at per
cent; issue to be not more than So
000,O0O in any single year; maturity
to be five to 30 years from date of
issue.
Appropriation OF $5,17i,55 for the
highway department for a period OF
two years, dating from July 1, this
year, Of which $2,250,O0O will be used
for highway building rewards and
$1,S00.0O0 for maintenance OF trunk
lines and federal aid roads.
Reorganization OF the highway, TO
be headed by an election commission
er, whose salary shall be $500 per
year and who shall name two depu-
ties, whose salary shall be recon-
mended by the commissioner, salaries
and expenses to be approved by the
board of state auditors. This bill al
so creates an advisory board for the
department with five members, whose
salary shall be not more than $40 per
day for maximum OF so days per
year.
Payment OF state rewards on
percentage instead of fiat rate basis
as follows: % per cent per mile,
of cost to counties OF road construc-
ton, up to a total cost OF $4,000 per
year.
Reduction in cost of construction OF
trunk line and federal aid highways
from the present 10 to 80 per cent to
g to % per cent, the remainder TO be
paid by the state and from the feder-
al reward funds. II might here be
noted that the amount OF federal re-
ward for road work in Michigan Will
almost double II Is stated. the money
to be expended on highways each year
during the Improvement campaign
Limiting Of the number OF truck
trailers 20 two per train and regulat-
ing the weight OF loads by width OF
tires, power and speed
The Legislature also amended the
automobile drivers license law,
passed during the regular session un-
der which n license fee of 80 cents