Highway+Department

The Fourteenth State Legislature, 1917, established the State Highway Department, which consisted of a State highway commission and a State high­way engineer who acted as secretary to the commission; the commission consisted of five State highway commissioners who biennially elected their chairman; the commissioners were appointed by the governor, by and with the consent of the senate, each to serve for a term of six years, and not more than three commissioners to be affiliated with the same political party; the commission appointed a State highway engineer, to hold office until removed by a vote of four of the commission.
 * Highway Department **

The State highway commission authorized the State construction, maintenance. and repair of public roads and bridges.

This Legislature created highway laws to conform with the Act of Congress approved July 11, 1916, entitled "An Act to provide that the United States shall aid the state in the construction of rural and post roads, and for other purposes."

The Fifteenth State Legislature, 1919, repealed ch. 76 of the 1917 Laws, creating the State Highway Department, and established a State Highway Department to consist of a State highway commission, and a State highway superintendent: the commission to consist of five commissioners appointed by the governor, with the advice of the senate, each to serve for a term of six years; the commission to appoint a State highway superintendent who serves indefinitely: the commission to maintain offices in the State Capitol, which is to be in charge of the State highway superintendent; under the supervision of the commission the superintendent has complete charge of laying out, establishing, and maintaining highways upon which State highway funds are expended, except those which are maintained in cooperation with the government.

The State legislatures enact laws for the State Highway Department which conform with the Federal laws granting Federal aid for public highways.

=As of 1943= The sections of the law establishing the State Highway Department, which are dealt with here, have not been changed to any extent since 1919, though the duties of the department have greatly increased with the growth and development of the State.

The State highway superintendent is required to make a biennial report to the commission in the even numbered years; the commission makes a report to the governor on or before the first day of November, one copy to be filed with the governor, and one with each house of the State legislature.

=Highway Commissioners=
 * ~ Name ||~  ||~ Start Date ||~   ||~ End Date ||
 * Z. E. Sevison ||  || 1917 ||   || 1919 ||
 * Donald S Mccalman ||  || 1919 ||   || 1921 ||
 * L. E. Laird ||  || 1921 ||   || 1927 ||
 * Z E Sevison ||  || 1927 ||   || 1933 ||
 * Clarence Henry Bowman ||  || 1933 ||   || 1933 ||
 * James B True ||  || 1933 ||   || 1937 ||
 * C. F. Seifried ||  || 1937 ||   || 1939 ||
 * J.D. Smith ||  || 1939 ||   || 1944 ||
 * J.R. Bromley ||  || 1943 ||   || 1965 ||
 * Ross G. Stapp ||  || 1965 ||   || 1971 ||
 * William G. Lucas ||  || 1971 ||   || 1976 ||
 * Leno Menghini ||  || 1977 ||   ||   ||