Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-01-08
Road Department
Now Reorganized
Virginia Divided Into Four Sections
With Field Agent Over
Each

Richmond, Va, Jan. S-The State
Highway Department, as required I'M
der acts Of 1922, has been reorgan-
lied. The new organization was ac-
complished during the month of De-
cember, becoming operative as of jan
uary l, 1923.
The last General Assembly placed
in the hands of the Governor the pow
CT and duty of appointing the five
members of the commission, subject to
confirmation by the Senate, and with
the right of removal, at the pleasure
of the Executive, of one or all. The
ac3 required that the five members be
selected from the five geographical
divisions OF the State, but that the
commissioners represent the whole
State, and not merely the local divis-
ions from which they were chosen.
One member Of the commission was
to be designated as chairman and re-
CURED to devote his entire time to
the work of the department. The
commission is required to assemble
at least four times % year, and often
er upon call Of the chair. The chair
man, as executive officer, is charged
with the duty of carrying ont all or
ders of the commission, an dis respon-
sible for the operation of the entire
department. The commissioner is APP
pointed by The chairman and is in
charge of all engineering work, hav-
ing the duties of chief engineer.
The organization is divided into two
principal departments, executive and
engineering. All policies are promul-
gated by the commission and carried
out by the chairman and all orders
are given by him. The sub-depart-
ments making up the executive de-
partment are the auditing, legal, right
of way. purchasing departments and
department Of statistics and ming,
The auditing department keeps the
accounts of the commission, together
with all receipts and disbursements.
Allotments and purchases are check
ed and audited in this department, All
payments are by check, after being
carefully audited. At the enc, Oh
every month reports are made show
ing the amounts of funds or hand, the
disbursements during the month, as
well as the amount let to contractors
and obligations made. This report IS
drafted in such detail as to show all
exuenoitures and receipts for each OF
the funds handled All payments are
made on estimates or vouchers sub
n1itted. the estimate or voucher set
ting out in detail the unit cost of each
item of work that goes to make up a
conn]ete lob. Vouchers for labor
show in detail hours or days spent
ON work and the character OF work
performed. To all expense accounts
submitted must be signed receipts at
fached for the different items making
IN the same. By the 10Th of each
month a statement is made OF the
standing of all the several accounts
and such other information as may
he necessary to give clear under
standing. -.1,
The purchasing department does al
the buying for the commission. All
purchases are made on requ;sltlonS
originating with the heads OF the SUD-
divis;ons. superintendents or lore
men on the job and approved by the
boad of a department before pur:.
nbasos can be made. 1t is the duty OF
the purchasing agent to purchase the
article reouisitioned after receiving
competitive bids, and as soon as re-
mort has been made to him that the
articles have been received ana are
Of the specified quality and quantity
10 nromptly pass bills for payment, SO
az 10 secure the cash discount allow
cd All orders are made in duplicate
ond = complete record is kept OF all
t.arsactions. This department should
hc self-supporting from cash discount
for prompt payment alone BESIDES
the large saving that can be erected
by a trained buyer.
The legal department consists OF an
attorney, and it is his duty to advise
Tho commission on all legal matters,
~ annrove all contract forms, specl-
fcat;ons and agreements as to their
local suficiency, to prepare al right
of.wav deeds and to supervise the
condemnation proceedings OF all pee
es of right of way that cannot be pur-
cbssod Work in this department has
greatly increased during the past sea
SON and requires much of the time OF
the legal head.
The right-of-way department con-
sists of a right -of-way engineer and
four field agents, one assistant and a
clerk. The State is divided into, four
divisions, consisting of 20 to 30 coun-
ties each, over each of which there Is
placed a field agent. Where options
can be taken previous to the final sur