The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-09-21
PUBLIC ROADS.

after some general conversation between
the members from various parts of tn
State Mr.. ID. Lawrence, of Howard count
called the meeting to order as Chairman Q
the committee, and stated all that had bee
done by the committee, since it was ap
! pointed, at its different meetings, and
then called the Hon. A. B. Davis, temper
arily to the chair, whilst he read and ex
planned the report Incorporating provision
! of Law, which he had prepared at tn
instance of most of the members of tn
committee who were present at the forme
meetings.
At the conclusion of Mr. DIS remarks
Mr.. William Webster was appointed Sec
rotary, and Mr.. Lawrence read his report
It is a lengthy and elaborate report, advo
eating the District system, with many nov
ell features, and shows great labor and re
search. 1t was pretty thoroughly ventilated
in the discussion of its merits by Messrs
Davis of Montgomery, Webster, Of Balti
more county; Dorsey, of Howard; Whitley
of Baltimore county; Walker, of Prince
Georges; Elliott, of St. Mary's; and Dor
sey of Carroll. The committee finally
determined to submit it to the convention
to be reassembled upon the call of the
President. On motion of Mr.. D. Lawr
ence, Esq, letter was prepared, request
ing Col. w. w. W. Bowie, President of the
Convention, to call it, on the 10th of Oc
tober, at 7.30 p. NJ. at Raine's Buildings
in Baltimore City. The committee then
adjourned to that day.
The following is copy of the Act pro.
posed by Mr.. Lawrence, which is to be the
subject of discussion at the next Road
Convention, and if adopted, to be submit
ted to the Legislature at its next session
for their adoption:
Section 1. The voters of the State OIL
Maryland shall assemble at their usual
places in their respective Election Districts
on the first Saturday of March of each veal
at the hour of two P. NJ, of which due
notice shall be given by the Sheriff of the
county in the manner now prescribed by
law for other elections, and shall elect by
shall serve for twelve months, and until
his successor shall replace him.
Sec 3 The District Road Com mission
ers that is to say, one commissioner from
each Election District of the county, shall
constitute Board of County Road Com
missioners, sue and be sued as such, ETC.,
and shall meet on the first Tuesday of each
month. or oftener if their duties shall de-
mand it, at the Court House, lin apart.
ments which the County Commissioners
shall furnish them,) for the transaction of
business; the first Board, however, and all
newly elected Boards. shall hold their first
meetings on the first Tuesday after the first
Saturday in March, and on the first Tues
day of each month thereafter.
Sec. 3. The County Board of Roard
Commissioners, at their first meeting in
March, shall elect a President and Secre-
tary, (who shall serve as Treasurer, from
their own number, and shall proceed to
levy labor tax upon the taxable property
of the county which in their Judgment
shall be necessary for the repair of the pub
lie roads thereof, which tax shall be paid
in labor upon the road near the premises
so taxed, and in the road district specified
by the Commissioner; or may be committed
by tbs payment to the Overseer of 81 80 for
each day of the said tax.
Sec. 4. Within ten days from such meet
ing it shall be the duty of the Road Com
missioners-each in his own Election Dis
trict-to lay off the roads into road districts
of length suitable for their repair, not
exceeding three miles, and shall appoint
within the ten days specified for each road
district an Overseer of Highways, and the
said road district shall be properly number
ed in book which the District Commits
sioner shall keep for the purpose, together
with the limits of each road district; at the
time of such appointment of an Owe rseer,
and by the Goth of March, the Road Com.
missioners shall furnish each Overseer a
list of the persons taxed in his road dis
trict, with the amount of tax in days for
each person SO taxed to pay, and eight
hours shall constitute day for the duties
required by this Act.
Sec. ). The Overseer shall then give at
least two days notice to each person on
his list to assemble at certain place on the
highway, for the purpose of its repair; but
the immediate payment of the commuta-
tion money shall exempt the person so pay
ing from such highway labor, and a verb
al notice at the PERSONS usual place of
abode shall be considered a legal service.
allowed to work out the said tax at the fol-
lowing rates for each days services of the
articles mentioned:
For each pair of Horses Working Catte-one day.
Cart or Wagon in use.............-
Plow or Scraper
Hand over eighteen.
Sec. :. The OverSeer shall keep cor
rect account of the amount of tax paid in
labor or money, or remaining unpaid, by
each person; make returns under oath,
therefor, to the District Road Commission
er; see that two thirds at least OF the
road tax is worked out before the first day
of May, and the remainder before the first
day of October; cause all loose stone to he
removed from the road previous to the first
day OF August, and also all injurious and
useless vegetation to be cut down before
the first day of July, and again near and
before the first day of September, with the
exercise of discretion in regard to such
growth as may afford proper shade to the
highway; and shall be liable to fine Of
ten dollars for neglect OF duty, and shall
receive one dollar per day for his services
the whole amount not to exceed IS per an
mum, the object being to annul the COM
pensation feature as soon as the law shall
be thoroughly established, as the Overseers
in other States are not paid, as they do but
little more work than their tax calls for.
Sec. 8. All male persons over eighteen
years of age, not taxed by the provision Of
Sec. 3, and physically qualified, shall work
two days OH the public roads i'll each year,
under the direction OF the Overseer Of
Highways, or may commute the same by
payment to the Overseer of $3.50 for each
day of tax unpaid, provided this section
shall not apply to operatives i'll factories,
nor residents Of corporate towns.
Sec 8. 1t shall further be the duty of
the District Commissioner to SEQ that the
roads in his district are promptly, regular
ly and efficiently repaired-made convex
with proper culverts, and water bay and
guide board at each cross roads-within the
time specified; issue directions to the Over
seers, in regard to the most effectual mode
of repair, which directions, together with
the duties of Overseers, as specified by this
Act, shall be printed on the Tax List and
Road Warrant of each Overseer; collect the
judgments which he shall render, not dis
posed of by Sec. Is; make returns TO the
County Board of the amount of money
appropriated by his district for road pur-
poses, as provided in Sec. 10; give orders
on the Treasurer of the County Board for
such monies as shall be expended on the
roads of his district, in accordance with the