KOAD MILEAGE;, EEVENUES, SOUTHEEN STATES^ 1914. 35 



OKLAHOMA. 



Oklahoma has a land area of 69,414 square miles, a total road 

 mileage of 107,916 miles, and a population, according to the 1910 

 Census, of 1,657,155. The State, therefore, has a population of 

 23.87 per square mile of area and 15.36 per mile of road, with 1.55 

 miles of road per square mile of area. Of the population in 1910, 

 80.7 per cent, or 1,337,000, was rural, thus indicating a rural popu- 

 lation of 12.38 per mile of road. 



In 1911, the legislature passed an act creating a State highway 

 department and provided for its maintenance by a registration fee 

 of $1 imposed upon each automobile in the State. A law was enacted 

 in 1915 which created a new department of highways with enlarged 

 powers and more adequate funds. This new law became effective 

 July 1, 1915. 



Owing to the reorganization of the State highway department, it 

 it was not practicable to obtain road mileage and revenue statistics 

 for the year 1914. It, therefore, was found necessary to wait imtil 

 the new department was organized and could undertake the work of 

 gathermg the necessary information. For that reason the data con- 

 tained m this bulletin relating to Oklahoma are for the year 1915, 

 and were collected by W. P. Danford, assistant State engineer and 

 collaborator for this office. 



One commissioner, appointed by the governor, by and with the 

 advice and consent of the senate, and known as the commissioner of 

 highways, is in charge of the department of highways. The com- 

 missioner of highways is vested with the power of general super- 

 vision over aU matters relating to State highways, including the 

 preparation of plans, specifications, and estimates, establishing 

 standards for the construction of roads and bridges, giving engi- 

 neering advice to local road officials, and collecting and compiling 

 statistics relative to the roads and bridges throughout the State. 

 He is authorized, with the consent of the governor, to appoint a 

 State engineer, who is required to be a civil engineer of established 

 reputation and qualified in road and bridge construction. The com- 

 missioner may also appoint, with the consent of the governor, 

 necessary assistant engineers and clerical help. 



The law provides for the appointment of a county engineer by the 

 board of commissioners of each county. Such engineer is required 

 to pass an examination held by the department of highways. He is 

 required to report to the State engineer upon aU matters relating to 

 highways and bridges in his coimty. His salary is paid from the 

 State road construction fund and the road and bridge fund. 



Where township organization is retained, the township board of 

 each township is required to select, annually, the roads to be dragged, 



