The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-04-08
Explains High Points"
of New Road Law
Passed BY Last
Legislature.
Letter To County Judge and Road
Essiseer.

be constructed ana mnintaineu WIN
State and Federal moneys. This law
becomes effective July LIST. 1920. and
as this Office has been advised that
great deal Of confusion exists in our
State mt the present time relative TO
some Of the provisions Of this law. !
am taking the liberty Of explaining
the "high points" Of same for your
information. I trust by now you
have received a copy Of this law and
have carefully digcs,ed its require
ments.
One Of the main features OF the
new law Is that n non-salaried, BIZ
Partisan Board. consisting OF four
members. two from each Of the dom
inant political parties Of our State.
constitutes n STATE HIGHWAY
COMMISSION. its members to be
representative business men OF Ken
lucky who are well acquainted with
the State rs whole and who are to
be not less than thirty years Of age.
This Commission in turn selects the
state Highway Engineer" who will
be the executive head Of the depart
INIT and whose acts will need to be
missioner.
approved or disapproved by the Com
The new law has designated a sys-
tenn Of State Highways. in which Is
embraced about $500 miles Of road.
Of which. ut the present time. about
900 miles have been improved under
the State Aid plan. This system Is
designated in the new law by Project
numbers and gives to each county at
least one trunk line system built and
maintained under State supervision.
Two Of the most important pro-
visions Of this new law. as relate TO
our present program are in Para
graph and Paragraph IL Of the
new law. One Of the provisions Of
Paragraph 3 relating to county ap-
preparations. donations, sub@crip-
tons and gifts on either State or
Federal Aid projects now under con-
struction or which are being surveyed
and planned for reads as follows;--
"Ths said State Highway Commis-
sion shall ssesrsais all sifss. doas-
tioas or appropriations which have
heretofore bees made or promised BY
any person. cooperation. Cesssy OF
Municipality In aid Of the eeassrue-
siea Of Aay road known - . State aid
o. Stats and Federal Al Road. whore
such sift. donation OF appropriated
has not been eemplstsA. asd said
gifts. desstiess o. sppvepsistiess. OF
any promise thereof. shsll b binding
and Of full eject the same 80 who's
made. and nothing In THE Act skall
b construed 10 sasss the validity
thereof"
This provision clearly sets forth
that no reimbursement will be made
on projects Of this character which
have already been financed or which
will be financed under past promises
up until July LIST. 1920.
The program Of construction which
has been laid out in this bill will re-
Quire mt least ten to fifteen years for
It's ultimate completion. even though
future Legislatures furnish sufficient
revenues for that purpose, and coun-
ties which repudiate their present
agreements or promises with this Of
fee in regard to projects which are
now under way or which will be uider
way by July LIST. 1920, will be in
grave danger Of not only losing their
Federal moneys which have been set
aside for them. but perchanee may
postpone the construction Of certain
projects until years In the future.
For these reasons. II Is very necessary
that contemplated improvements
which hav been under way for some
time be handled as II no new road
bill had been enacted.
One Of the provisions Of Para
graph IL relates to those counties
that desire to anticipate the con-
struetion Of primary roads that cross
their county and reads as follows
"if any eouasy desires to construct
any par, Of any primary road before
the state may construct same under
the plan and system herein dssisast-
cd. such county shall make REQUEST Of
the State Highway Commission 80 TO
do. When such reqssss 10 made. the
Stats Highway Commission shall i'm
@sdisss,y isvsssissss sssh REQUEST.
and. u they find that the county has
funds svsilshis 10 construct ssy part
Of sseh road. ssd viii pay for the
se.strueties thereof. the State High
vay ceasissies may take sp i'm
.sdisssly ~ the ssassvussiss Of
such road. Bot shsy shali Get De 90
satii The sssssy has tAhss sssh sssps
- shsy nay vsssiss 10 ashs svsilsbis
sukisess IN tk~ir o<}sg suDi<isst