Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-01-23


district be IN good order, and shall not.
within two years thereafter, he roap.
pointed without his consent
). The road precincts shall remain
a now laid out and described hv metes
aud bounds, in the several magisterial
districts, until changed by the board
OF road commissioners, The said
board shall have power, and it shall
be their duty, to make such changes
therein as may be proper. The sur
HryOrs in charge of said precincts
when this act goes into effect, shall
continue in the performance of their
duties, until the overseers hereinafter
provided Tor, shall be appointed and
qualified.
!. The board of road commissioners
shaU, as soon rs they shall be organ
iZtd, proceed to appoint one Ovcrseer
OF roads for each precinct established,
not exceeding three for each district,
who shall reside therein, and shall
have charge of the roads and bridges
in his precinct. His term OF office.
after the first appointment, shall be
two years, beginning on the first day
of August succeeding his appoint
ment. He shall qualify before the
said board, and enter into a bond pay
able to them, in a penalty of at least
double the value Of any property, and
amount of any tax tickets or money
likely 10 come into his hands, and
with security approved by thom. They
shall, not later than the fifteenth day
of July, in the year 1879, and in every
second year thereafter, appoint Que
overseer Of roads for each preciLct in
their district.
5. The duty of the overseer of roads
shall be to see that the roads in his
precinct are kept in good repair that
the bridges and crossings for foot pas
sengers are in safe condition : that the
roads are of necessary width, we'll
drained, and free from distractions :;
that all dead trees near the roads are
cut down, and all loose stones remov-
ed from the roads : that neat sign
boards are kept at all forks and cross
ings of public roads plainly indicating
the most noted place to which each
road leads, and the distance thereto !;
and he shall contract for all tools and
implements necessary for working of
roads, subject TO the approval of the
board of road commissioners, and shall
have custody of the same. He shall
perform such other duties as may he
prescribed by law.
6. The Overseer of roads shall re-
ceive compensation of one dollar
day for every day he is actually en-
gagged in summoning hands: provid-
ed, he shall have summoned not less
than ten hands each day and one
dollar and fifty cents a day for every
day he is actually engaged in working
on the roads (less the two days re-
quired Of him by law:) provided he
shall have employed not less than ten
hands each day. But in any case in
which it shall appear to the board that
through the failure of those su mmou-
ed to attend as required, there have
been less than ten hands employed,
hut necessary and valuable work has
been done, they may allow a reasona-
bic pensatiOn, not exceeding 10
cents for each hand so employed. The
overseer of roads shall not for any 9TH
er services rendered by him receive
any further or other compensation.
7. The overseer of roads and the
sureties on his official bond, In addi-
tion to their liability for all property,
tickets and money which may come
into his hands as overseer, and for
which he shall fail to account when
required, shall be liable for any failure
or neglect to keep his roads and bridg-
es in good order, or to perform any
other duty required by law, and they
shall also be liable in damages to any
party injured by reason of such fail
ure or neglect of said overseer. The
amount of such liability may be recov-
cred by the board, or in their name for
the benefit of any injured party, by
suit in court, or upon the warrant of a
justice, as the case may be.
s. The road comm issioner shall have
general supervision of all the roads
and bridges in his district, including
bridges built jointly by his county and
any adjoining county across streams
which constitute the boundary be-
tween such counties. The Overseers
of roads in his district shall be under
his authority and subject to his orders
Upon complaint by him to the board
that any overseer neglects or refuses
to perform his duties, the board may,
if satisfied of the correctness of such
complaint, remove said Overseer and
appoint another in his place and if
any overseer shall neglect or refuse ar
ter notice in writing from the road
Gonna Missioner to perform any duty re-
quire1 of him, it shall be the duty of
the road commissioner to cause the re-
quired work to be done. 1t shall also
be the duty of the road commissioner
to suIerintend the changing of any
road opening of any new road or
building of any new bridge which may
be required of him by the county court.
He shall perform such other duties as
may be prescribed by law.
8. If any road commissioner shall
neglect or refuse to lerfOrm the duties
required of him by law, he shall be IL
able, on presentment OF a grand jury,
TO pay fine of not more than thirty
dollars for each offence. But If it shall
appear to the court that prosecution
was frivolous and NeXatiOus, the court
may, upon acquittal of the road COM
missioner, require the prosecutor to
pay the costs.
TO- Every petition to alter, change
or discontinue public road, to open a
new road, or build bridge, or estab-
lish ferry, must hereafter he first re-
ferred to the board of road commits
sioners for the district to which the
petitioners belong, who shall endorse
thereon their approval or disapproval
of the same, and the reasons therefor,
The petition, with said endorsements.
shall then be presented TO the county
court, and there proceeded with as pre-
scribed 10y the general statutes In such
cases made and provided, But the
board of road commissioners may or
der any change in road which does
NOT involve the condemnation Of land