State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

JANUARY SESSION, 1902.

CHAPTER 982.

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVE- Passed April 8, MENT, AND MAINTENANCE OF STATE ROADS.

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. The governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint a state board of public roads, to consist of five suitable persons who are qualified electors of the state, one from each county of the state, to hold office: one for five years, one for four years, one for three years, one for two years, and one for one year, from the first day of February, 1902. At the January session of the general assembly, A. D. 1903, and at the January session of the general assembly in each year thereafter, the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint such person or persons to succeed the member or members of said board whose terms will next expire; and the person or persons so appointed shall hold their office until the 1st day of February in the fifth year after their appointment. Any vacancy which may occur in said board when the senate is not in session shall be filled by the governor until the next session thereof, when he shall, with the advice and consent of the senate, appoint some person to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the term. The members of said board shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties, and may be removed by

1902.

state board of public roads, how appointed office.

and term of

Appropriation for clerk hire and engineer assistance.

To have an office in the state house.

To serve without pay.

To make an annual report.

Report, what to contain.

the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, for such cause as he shall deem sufficient and shall express in the order of removal.

SEC. 2. Said board may expend annually for clerk hire, for engineer assistance, and for the incidental expenses connected with the performance of the duties of their office, the sum of five thousand dollars, which sum is hereby annually appropriated for that purpose. Said board shall be provided with an office in the state house. The members of said board shall serve without remuneration, except for their necessary travelling and other expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The state auditor is hereby authorized to draw his order upon the general treasurer for any of said expenditures, when certified to by the chairman and secretary of said board, who shall both be members of said board.

SEC. 3. Said board shall annually make a report to the general assembly, during the month of January, setting forth in detail all its transactions during the preceding year and making such recommendations for relocating, regrading, or improving the main highways of the state as it shall deem for the best interests of the entire state, having regard also to the connection of such main highways with the main highways of adjoining states, and reporting with maps showing the present location and grades, the proposed location and grades, and the proposed construction or improvements, and the probable cost of making such change of location or grade or of making such construction or improvements. Such report, to be presented to the general assembly at its January session, A. D. 1903, shall present as near as possible a comprehensive plan of all the main highways of the state which it is desirable to relocate, regrade, construct or improve, with the recommendations of said board as to the most desirable period in which to carry on said work to completion. No work, other than preliminary surveys, shall be done upon any of said main highways until said report shall

No work other

to be done

until report is

approved by

general

assembly.

have been approved by the general assembly and the money than surveys appropriated for such purpose. Said board shall thereupon direct and control, according to law, the expenditure of all such appropriations, and is hereby authorized to make all contracts necessary for that purpose: Provided, however, that not more Appropriation to be apporthan one-third nor less than one-seventh of the net available tioned, how appropriation for road improvement made by the general assem

bly shall be expended in any county during any one year, unless otherwise specially ordered by the general assembly at the time of making such appropriation.

SEC. 4. All main highways so improved by said board shall be constructed or improved to a uniform width of fourteen feet, exclusive of shoulders or gutters, except that any town or city desiring to have improved a greater width of such highway may agree in writing with said board for such additional width of improved main highway as it may desire, provided the entire expense of such additional width of improved main highway be paid by such town or city to the general treasurer, to be credited to the amount available for use by said board for the purposes of this act.

Highways conimproved to be

structed or

of uniform width of 14

feet.

Exception.

Construction, formed by

etc., to be per

written con

tract.

advertised.

SEC. 5. All road construction or improvements made by said board shall be, and all repairs may be, performed by written contract, made by said board in behalf of the state, and after advertisement, by order of said board, has been published for at least twenty days in one or more public newspapers published Proposals to be in the county where such road lies, and in at least two public newspapers published in the city of Providence, inviting sealed proposals for such road construction or improvement, to be made under the supervision and subject to the approval of said board and in accordance with its plans and specifications; and said advertisements shall state the time and place said plans. and specifications may be examined, and when the proposals made in answer to said advertisements will be opened, and shall reserve the right of said board to reject any and all proposals: