Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-04-06
THE NATIONAL ROAD.
Passage Of the Law Placing il
Under the Control Of the
County Commissioners.

Senator Knox's bill placing the Ma
tional Road under the management Of
the Commissioners of the counties
through which it passes, became a law
on Saturday. Below we print the bill
as it finally passed; it is very import
ant measure especially TO this county,
and it is considered by many as the
most important law passed by the
present Legislature. 1t entrusts to the
care of our County Commissioners
twenty-eight miles of Il great artery,
upon the good condition of which de-
pends largely the wealth and prosper
ity of large part of the county. 1t is
trust which requires constant vigil
ance, experienced men, large outlays
and economical administration of its
affairs. We are satisfied that the opera
ton of The law will prove of much ben
eft to all the people who use the road
that it will ultimately secure its thor
ough repair at a much less proportional
cost than heretofore. Our people are
under espe cial obligations TO Senator
Knox for his assiduous labors in the
preparation and championship of this
bill and for the watchful care which he
exercises over our interests in the Leg
islative Halls of the State, and to Mr..
Cleaver for his persistent efforts in be-
halt of the bill in the House. The fol-
lowing is Il copy of the law:
AN ACT
To authorize the Commissioners of the several
counties in this State, through which the
National Road passes to take under their
care the control so much of said Road as
lies within the limits of such counties re-
spectively.
SECTION /. BE it enacted By tile General
Asseza6ly of tile State of Ohio, That the county
commissioners of such counties in this state,
through which any part vf the national road
passes, are hereby authorized and required to
take under their care and control, in behalf Of
their respective counties, so much of said road
as lies within the limits of their counties respec
tively, except such parts thereof as may be by
law under the control of cities or incorporated
villages, and said road shall be kept in such
repair, by each county SO taking possession
thereof, as is contemplated by the act or acts
of congress ceding to the state OF ONO the
jurisdiction and control of such portion OF said
national road as lies within the limits of this
state, and said commissioners shall be governed
in all respects by the laws now in force relating
to the said road, except as hereinafter provided.
Provided, however, the county commissioners
shall not assess or levy any tax for the repair
or preservation of said road, except as pro-
ylded in the general statutes for the repair and
preservation of county and state roads.
Sec 2. That said county commissioners shall
have power to cause gates and toll houses to be
erected en- said road within their respective
counties, for the purpose of collecting tolls,
and appoint the necessary collectors OF tolls,
and remove them at pleasure, and pay them
reasonable compensation for such services
said collectors of tolls shall pay into the
county treasures of their respective counties,
at the end of each month, all the moneys that
, they shall have collected that remain in theiI
hands after deducting their compensation al
: lowed for their services said commissioners
shall apply said money to the keeping III re
pair of said road within their respective coun
tiles. In the collection of said tolls, said col
lectors shall be governed in all respects by the
law now in force relating to collectors OF tolls
provided, that the number of gates Shall moi
: exceed one on any span or distance OF ten miles
And no toll shall be collected between Colum
bus and the Ohio Central Lunatic Asylum.
Sec. 3. That said commissioners shall have
power, if they deem it for the best interest Of
such road, to require the collection of toll
from passers who may travel with horses and
: all kinds of carriages and wagons, between
toll gates or between the county line and thu
nearest gate thereto, at the same rate per mile
as may be charged for like travel on said road
to persons travelling or hauling through tht
: toll gates thereof, and said county commits
. sioners may make such rules and regulation:
with regard to the collection of such interme
diate tolls as they may deem just and proper
Sec. 4. That the county commissioners o.
such counties, in which said road has neve
been completed and in which no toll gates art
erected or tolls collected, may proceed in ac
cordance with the act to authorize county
commissioners to lay out and establish fret
turnpike roads, &C., passed April 18th, 1867
, and the eacts..supplementary and amendatory
thereto, to make and declare such unfinished
parts of the said road a free turnpike or county
road.
: Sec. 5. This act shall take effect and be'iI
force from and after the fifteenth of May, 1876
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