The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-10-22
(Bp Autboritp.)
Laws of the United States.
AN ACT

ter the county of Washington, in the dis.
trict of Columbia.
u E enacted 6y f6e Senate and House Of Reo,e.eno,
~ ff,es f the ttssed States .inrrfec in Congress
essemSled, That the Board of Commissioners or levy
court for the county Of Washington in the district
81 Columbia be, and hereby empowered 20 erect
and maintain penitentnry, TO be erected in such
rtsce as the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Coun.
cii OF the city of Washington shall dcsignats.
Sec 2. .ina be i further enacted That the BOARD
OF Commissioners or levy court for the said county
be vested with full power TO lay out straishlen and
repair public roads within the said county, cxcep,
within The corporate limits OF the city of Washing
ton and Georye,o~n, undcr the eonditons hereinaf
ter prescribed n
Sec. 3 Ind be II further enacted, That the said
Board or levy court be empowered to lay out and
mark roads through any such part OF the said coun.
try; PreUiasd, They shall not exceed one hundred
feet IN width, and shah pass through any build.
ihg garden or yard, without the consent OF the own.
er and Reasonable compensation, ii required by
the cwner, shall be made for the land thus marked
and laid out, which shall DC fixed in the following
manner On laying out and marking any road, SIX
weeks notice thereof shall be given in some public
print, published in the county In case any owner
OF land, through which the said road passes shall
require compensation therefor, he shall, within two
weeks thereafter, apply to the levy court, Who may
agree with him tor the purchase thereof and in case
OF disagreement, or in case the shall be feme
county, on application 10 any justice of the county,
to DC made wnhn Two weeks after the expiration OF
the aforesaid two weeks, the said justice shall issue
his warrant, under his hand, 20 the marshal of the
district OF Columbia, commissioning him to summon
twelve freeholders, inhabitants OF the county, not
related TO the said owner, nor in any manner nteres
ted, To meet the land to be valued at dsy TO be
expressed in the warrant, of which ten days notice
shall be given by the marshal 10 the levy court and
10 the owner Of the said land left at lis, or her
place OF abode, or given 10 his her guardian il
an infant, or if out OF the county, by publishing no.
,ee thereof Tor SIX wesks in some public prn! of the
county; and the marshal, receiving the said war.
rant, shall summon the said jury. and when met.
shall administer an oath affirmation 20 every Jury.
man, who shall swear or affirm, the case may be,
that he will justly, faithfully and impar,iay value
the land. and all damages tho owner thereof will
sustain by the road passing through the sarnc hav
ing regard TO all circumstances OF convenience, be-
ne6t or disadvantage, according TO the best Of his
skill and Judgment; and the inauisiton thercupon
taken shall be signed by the marshal and seven or
more OF the said Jury, aud shall be conclusive and
the same shall be returned 10 the clerk Of the coun-
~, 10 be by him recorded At the expense of the levy
court end the vsiustoo expres.sd ia such inauisi-
tion shall be paid by the said levy court to the owner
of the land, or his legal representative, before the
levy court proceed to open The said road in case no
such application shall be made within the aforesaid
periods, the lands thus appropriated shall be adjudg
ton be hereafter required therefor
Sec. 4. And be i further enacted, That the board
OF commissioners or levy court, they SHAH
have laid out, marked and opened a road and COM
piled with the foregoing provisions, shall return the
courses, bounrs aud plat thereof to the clerk Of the
county, to be by him recorded at the expense of the
said court and the said road, no laid out and re.
turned, aforesaid shall be thereafter takeh held
and adjudged public road and common highway
Sec s. lind be further enacted, That In all cases
where stone. gravel other materials, ohai be ne
cessary for making or repairing road, the levy
court may agree with the owner for the purchase
thereof or with the OF the land on which the
same may be, for the purchase of the said land ;
and in OF disagreement, or in the owner
should be ieihe covert, Under age or non coppos
or out of the county, on application to justice Of
the county, may proceed in all respects in the
manner for condemnng the said materials Ior the use
of said road, as IN like cases where lands are di.
rected to be taken and condemned as aforesaid, for
making the said road /; ahd the said parties re.
spcctfully shah have the benefit and advantage
Of the said proceedings as they have usdeT and in
virtue of the said provision for condemning land
herein before mentioned.
Sec. 6. ind Je n further enaefei That if q road
shall be carried through any fields ground in &C.
tual cultivation, such fields shall not be laid open,
used as public road, until after the usual time Of
taking of crops then growing thereon
Sec. 7.fnd be IL further enacted, That II any per.
son shall alter or change, or IN any manner obstruct
or encroach on a public road, or cut destroy, de-
face any mile stones, set up said road
or put place any rubbish, dirt, logs, make any
pit or hole therein such person may he indicted in
the circuit for the district Of Columbia, and
being convicted thereof shall be fined imprisoned,
in the discretion OF the court, according 70 the ma
ture Of the offence.
Sec. g. .fnd5e hfnrfher enacted Tha; the board Of
commissioners or levy court may, Tor the aforesaid
and all other general county purposes, annually lay
all the real aud personal property in tle said
county except within the limits OF the city Of Wash
ington, any existing law TO the contrary notwiul-
sspding, not exceeding twenty-five cents in tie hun
dred dollars value Of said property for the co!lee.
tor. safe-kecpng and disbursement Of which they
hereby empowered to appoint the necessary Off.
GERS, and 70 all the means now in force and
ccssary for the assessment and collection Of taxes in
the said county, and to ensure due and regular
accountability for the same, and all existing laws SO
far as they vest the said levy court power lay