Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-05-09
OFFICIAL.
Passed at Me Second Session Of Me TAirty seventh
Congress.
[PUBLlc-No. SGT


AN Act relating to highways in the county
OF Washington md District Of Columbia.
Be Il enacted By the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentdtives gfMe Tinted States Of america in Con
gress assembled That from and after the passage
of this act, il shall lie lawful for The levy court
Of Washington county, in the District OF Colum-
bla, to alter, repair, widen, and regulate the
public roads and highways, in said county, and
TO lay out additional roads as hereinafter speci-
hed
Sec. .. and be il further enacted, That all
roads within said county of Washington which
have been used by the public for period of
twenty-five years or more as a highway, and
have been recognised by the said levy court as
public county roads, anu for the repairs Of which
the said levy court has appropriated and expen-
ded money, are declared public highways,
whether the same have been recorded or not
and any person who shall Obstruct the free use
OF said highways, or any one of them, without
authority from said levy court shall be subject
to fine for each and every offence of not less
than one hundred or more than two hundred and
fifty dollars, TO be imprisoned till the said fine
and the costs Of suit and collection of the same
are paid; said fines to be collected In the name
OF the United States, for the use Of the levy
court.
Sec. r. 4hd be il further enacted That within
one year from the passage of this act tine levy
i
Of Washington to survey and plat all snch roads
as are named in the last preceding section, and
have the same recorded among tho records OF
said county now used for recording surveys and
pats Of other public county roads; and, in
making said survey, the county surveyor shall
| follow, as nearly as possible, the lines and buun-
daries heretofore used and known as a highway.
and he shall cause the lines and boundaries Of
the same to be permanently marked and fixed by
by the erection OF stones pcsts at the different
angles thereof.
SEQ. 4. And be IL further enacted, That all
such roads as are named in the second section OF
this act as have been obstructed by any person
or persons in any manner within the last sz
years shall he re-opened by the levy bourt if, in
the judgment Of said court, the public conve-
nieAos requires it aud the expenses thereby in.
CURED shall be paid by the person or persout
who shall have obstructed the same, which ex-
penaes shall be collected as fines are required
to be collected under the second section OF thi.
act.
Sec. 9. And be il farthsr enacted. That here
after, in laying out new roads in said county oil
Washington, the levy court shall cause sucl
roads to be of a width of not less than fifty mol
more than one hundred feet, and it may alst
causs the width of any Of the existing roads il
said county to be increased TO not more than on,
hundred feet, and change the location of any o
them, as the said levy court may deem best fol
the public interest; and, for the purpose of open
ing or widening such rOAds, the said levy cour
is hereby empowered 10 cause to be condemned
; any land or lands necessary for the same al
other lands are now condemned by law.
Sec. d. And be il further enacted, That in AM
case where materials shall be necessary fo
making or repairing a public road, If the lew
court cannot agree with the owner as to thei
[ purchase tile said court may procted in the SAM
manner for cOndemning said materials as in case
of condemnation of land for the purpose of
public road.
Sec Z. And be IL further enacted, That n
field or garden or yard, in actual cultivation
shall be hid open or used as a public highwa
until after the usual time of taking off the crop
growing thereon.
Sec 8. And be il further enacted, That th
requirement in the existing laws, that member
of the levy court thall be appointed from amongs
the justices of the peace in the county Of Wash
. inRton is hereby repealed.
. ] Approved, May ., 1862.