Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1921-06-16
Features of the Hard Roads
Legislation Proposed By Ralph

| AAo oAAAS VA OSHdLOr e1seApu prOflultiG
plans for the building Of hard-sur-
face road system in Missouri and to be-
presented at the approaching session
of the legislature include the follow
ing prin ipal features:
All Laws concerning the present BIZ
partisan State Highway Commission
Of four members are repealed, and
there is created commission of three
members, to be appointed by the Gov
ernor, for four-year terms, and to be
paid $40 a day for time actually en-
ployed, There is nothing to require
that one member shall be of different
political faith than the other two.
A hard surfaced road" is defined to
be "a road surfaced with gravel, ma
cadam or other suitable materials ap-
proved by the commission; an earth
road shall not be considered hard
surfaced road"
All road projects approved by the
present commission shall be completed
as planned.
The chief engineer who must have
had five years practical experience in
the construction and maintenance of
hard-surfaced roads, shall be appoint
| ed by the commission, He shall apopint
other employees with approval Of the
commission.
| No salaries, except for members of
the commission, are fixed, the COM
mission being given power to fix all
salaries.
| Members of the commission and all
employees are prohibited from having
| "pecuniary interest" in the sale ofroad
or bridge building material, tools, ma
chinery or supplies, and in any con-
tract for the construction Of roads or
bridges.
i Bonds are required to be given by
all employees who will have in their
charge public funds or property.
The principal office Of the commits
sion will be in jefferson City.
1 A estate highway" is defined as a
highway constructed or maintained
/ at the sole cost of the State, or for
which the State has paid a portion Of
the cost Of construction and which has
been included in the State highway
SYSTEM
i Establish Statewide connected
system Of hard-surfaced roads Of APP
nroximately 5000 miles,. extending
\ into each county, to be located, ac-
y quired, constructed, reconstructed,
J improved and forever maintained as
public roads, and the necessary grad
ing, bridges and culverts Therefore
shall be constructed by the State Of
Missouri.
\ Contracts for road construction
shall be let to the lowest responsible
bider, who shall give bond in sum
equal to the contract price.
Rights of way for roads shall be not
less than so feet wide, and the surfaced
roadway shall be of sufficient width
to meet the reasonably expected traf-
I | fic requirements.
4 The commission shall designate the
routes along which the highways shall
be constructed.
The commission shall determine the
type and character of construction.
\ Whenever State highway runs
over a road constructed by county
or road district, or by the State, the
Federal Government and county or
road district, the commission shall
construct for the county or road dis
trict roads equal in value to that taken
!, over by the State.
If any county or road district de-
sires a road or higher type of con-
struction than decided upon by the
commission, it may have such road by
paying the difference in cost.
The State shall pay for State high
/. way through towns Of less than $500
population, and through portions OF
!, other towns where houses are not less
! than 200 feet apart.
Construction Of the State highway
, system shall start at the same time at
20 different points in the State, and on
y sections of road at least 10 miles long.
Not less than 100000 Of the bond
isue money shall be spent in any
county.
4 All roads designated as part Of the
State system shall be maintained by
i the State from the time the system il
designated. Nj
The commission shall provide for 9
Ipatrol system to maintain roads.
/ Provision Is made for the issuance
Z lof the bonds from time to time, thu
bonds to bear interest at not more
than S per cent. Entire credit Of ths
N State Ii pledged to the payment q
the bonds and interest.
Provisions Is made for the accept
ance Of Federal aid on road projects
N
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