12 BULLETIN 387, U, S. DEPAETMENT OF AGEICULTURE. 



to consist, ex officio, of the commissioner of State lands, highways 

 and improvements, as chairman, and two other members to be ap- 

 pointed by the governor to serve for terms of two years each. Sub- 

 ject to the approval of the State highway commission, the commis- 

 sioner of State lands, highways and improvements appoints a State 

 highway engmeer. The head professor of civil engineering in the 

 State miiversity is ex officio consulting engineer of the department 

 of State lands, highways and improvements. There is a highway 

 improvement fund which consists of all fees accruing in the office 

 of State lands, highways and improvements, and the proceeds from 

 the registration and licensing of motor vehicles. The work of the 

 State highway department embraces the educational, advisory, and 

 constructive phases of road work as follows : 



(1) The holding of road mstitutes in each county every year 

 and the issuance of bulletins pertaining to road work. 



(2) Consultation relative to and investigation of all road and 

 bridge matters upon request. 



(3) Makuig prehminary surveys, plans, estimates, and specifi- 

 cations of all road work contemplated mider the general road - 

 district law and the workmg of all available State convicts on 

 the public roads or in the preparation of road materials. 



The constitution gives the county courts exclusive original juris- 

 diction over all matters relating to roads, bridges and ferries. The 

 comity courts, with approval of the quorum court, may appoint a 

 commissioner of roads, highways and bridges for their respective 

 counties, to have charge of the buildmg and repairing of roads and 

 bridges under the direction of the comity judge. Said court shall 

 divide the county into convenient road districts and appoint an over- 

 seer for each such district. In six counties a county highway engineer 

 may be appointed by the county courts for a term of one year. 

 Where a county highway engineer is appointed he shall have super- 

 vision over all road work and shall direct the overseers in the per- 

 formance of their duties. In counties having the county engineer 

 system, all work may be done by contract, the county engineer to pre- 

 pare plans, estimates and specifications and let the work to the lowest 

 responsible bidder, the funds for paying same to be derived from the 

 general 2^ or 3 mill road tax. An optional system for working roads 

 is provided, subject to adoption by the comity court, whereby each 

 political township is made a road district and a township road over- 

 seer is to be elected at each general election. 



Road improvement districts may be created by the county court 

 when petitioned for by a majority in land value, acreage, or number 

 of land owners within the proposed district and after the required 

 pubho notice and hearing. 



