Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1893 — About That New travel Road Law. [ARTICLE]

About That New travel Road Law.

The matter of the three proposed gravel roads in Marion township aggregating 17| miles in length and now in process of being “viewed” and surveyed, is one of the utmost importance to the people of Rensselaer and Marion township. These proposed roads will be an all-prevailing subject of discussion for some time to come, we therefore give herewith an abstract of the course of proceedings to be followed, as gleaned by a careful study of the law under which it is proposed to build the roads. The viewers and engineer, who are already at work, will report to the next term of the Commissioners’ court, as to location, length, plans, profiles, estimated cost of the roads, the kind and quality of material to be used, its depth, width &c., and which report must be published in full, in some newspaper. The commissioners must then order an election, by the qualified voters of the town and township, to determine whether or not the roads shall be built. All the roads proposed will be voted on at the same time, but the ballots shall designate each road separately. If the roads or any of them receive a majority of the votes cast, the commissioners shall proceed to construct them. Bids are to be advertised for in at least one county paper, and one Indianapolis paper. The contract is to be let to the lowest responsible bidder, but no contract shall be let for a bid higher than the estimates of the viewers. To raise money _to build the roads, the county issues bonds about the same as in the case of the gravel road law of 1881. These bonds must be in five equal series, one series payable in one year, one in two years, one in three years, one in four years and the other in five years. The law does not permit longer or shorter terms for the bonds, than as just stated. The bonds are to draw not higher than per cent, interest, and can not be sold for less than their face value. To meet these bonds, as they mature, and the interest thereon an annual tax is levied upon all the taxable property of the township in which the roads are built, included all towns or cities, in such townships of less than 30,000 population. This tax must be levied to meet the bonds and interest as they become due, thus making it necessary to pay the entire cost of the roads in five years. The question of the maintenance of these roads, after they are built is of great importance. -Gravel roads built under either of the two older free gravel road law’s, are maintained and kept in repair at the expense of the county. Under this new law, the question of maintaining and repairing Is ina terrible jumble. Section Seven reads as follows: All roads built under this act shall be free of toll, and shall be kept iutrepair by the county in which they are located, and the towns and cities in such townships at which they terminate. And it shall be the duty of the Trustees of said townships to levy annually such a tax as will cover the expense of maintenance: Provided, That such levy shall not exceed ten cents upon each one hundred dollars in any year. While the above section seems to divide and scatter the responsibility for keeping these roads in repair, among the county commissioners, the township trustees and the town board; the cost’ of such maintenance and repairs must evidently come out of the township, as no one but the township

trustees are directed or authorized to levy any taxes for the purposes. Although the county, the township and the towns are all to have a hand in maintaining these Jbads according to the section just quoted, yet Section 10 provides that that the Board of Commissioners shall “appoint a competent superintendent” “to supervise the construction and maintenance of such road or roads.” The beautiful muddle made by these two sections, is increased by section 8, which evidently, although somewhat indirectly,—lays upon the Township Trustees the duty of maintaining the roads, after they are built, as it directs that any surplus left after paying for the construction of the roads, or delinquent tax collected, shall be paid to the township trustee, and be “by him kept and used as a fund for the maintenance of such roads in his township.” The “competent superintendent,” required in section 10, is to-receive the munificent salary of not to exceed $1.50 per day, for time actually employed, and no provision made for his expenses.