The Russellville Democrat., 1878-03-21
March le, 1878.
An Act to be Entitled An Act to Provide for Locating and Changing of COun-
 Cnn fsx

Provide for Locating ana
 Changing of Coun-
 ty Seats.
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly
 of the State of Arkansas:
 Section l. That unless for the pur- pose of the temporary location of county seats in the formation of new counties, it shall be unlawful to estab- fish or change any county seat, in this State without the consent of a majority of the qualified voters of the county to be affected by such change, nor until the place or places at which il is pro- posed to establish or change any county seat shall he fully designated, such des- ignation embracing complete and iil- telligible description of the proposed locations, together with an abstract Of the title thereto, and the terms and conditions upon which the same can be purchased or donated by or to the coun- ty: Provided, The County Court shall not order the election hereinafter pro yided for, unless it shall be satisfied that a good and valid title can aEd will be made to the proposed new locations or one of them.
 Sec. ?. The temporary location for the county seat of any new county shall be fixed by the Act of the General As sembly, authorizing the formatioii and organization of such new county and such temporary location for the pur- poses ofsthis act shall be considered the permanent and established location unless changed or removed as herein provided for the change or removal oi other county seats.
 Sec. 3. Whenever the qualified voters of any county in this State to the num- Der of one-third thereof shall join in the petition to the Caunty Court of such county, for the change or removal of the county seat, embodying in the petition the designation and abstract Of title and the terms and conditions of sale, or donation, as provided for and required by section one of this act, the County Court shall order an election to be held at the several voting places in the county, directing that the proposi- ton of the petitioners for the change or removal shall be submitted to the qual- flied voters. The County Court shall also order and require that public no- tice shall he given of such proposed change or removal, by publication thereof in some newspaper printed Tn the county, if any there be, and by directing and requiring the Sheriff to post up, in hand bill form, printed copies of such oreer, il. not less than three of the most public places in each township of the county, not less than thirty days before the election at which the proposition for the change or re- moyal is to be voted upon. All of which potices shall be published and continued up until the day of election :, and any person defacing. tearing or destroying any of them shall Dc deeme- guilty of a misdemeanor, and upol con- viction thereof shall be punished as is now provided by law for defacing. tear ing down or destroying public notices or advertisements. Provided, That nothing in this act shall be so con- strued as to amend the act passed by the General Assembly in relation to the location of the county site of lzard county.
 Sec. 4. The election provided for in this act shall be understood in the same manner as general elections are required by law to be understood, and the poll books thereof shall b" returned by one of the election officers, to be nesiguatet by the judges of election, under seal, to the Clerk of the County Court within five days thereafter, who shall take to his assistance two Justices of the Peace of the county and shall open and compare the polls of such election, and declare the result, and make return thereof to the County Court. if 1t then be in session; if not to next term thereof.
 See. 5. The ballots of the voters shall have written or printed upon them the words, ''For Change" or "Against Change;' meaning for or against change from the existing location, and the words, "For" (one of the localities allowed by the act to be voted for, naming and describing the place), to which the change or removal Is pro- posed.
 Sec. 6. If majority of the qualified voters of the county shall vote in favor of the change from the existing loea- ton, and also if n majority of the quaii- fled voters of the county shall be given for one of the places to which It IS pro- posed to change or remove GIT more than one be submitted), the County Court shall make all necessary orders, providing necessary means appoint- ing commissioners. etc., to carry into effect the will of such majorities so ex- pressed, without Unreasonable delay, according to existing laws not hereby repealed, and the provisions ofthfs act Provided, however, That if such major fly of the qualified votes, although given in favor of change or removal from the existing location, be not given for the place Cor one of the places, if more than one. place be submttedl, to which he change or removal is propos- ed to be made, the proposition shall be considered as rejected, and it shall be the duty of the County Court at it's next regular meeting, to order new elee- ton to be governed in all respects like the first, except at the second election only the two places having the highest and greatest number of votes at the frs. election shall be put in nomination and voted for, and all votes cast for other than the two places above designated shall ne void, and the place receiving the highest and greatest number of votes shall be and become the county seat.
 Sec 2. Before any orders ofthc Conn., ty Court contemplated by section six (6l of this act shall be made, or if made, before they shall be executed, the ven dor or donor of the new location, shall make or cause to be made and deliver to the County Judge good and stifi- cient deed, conveying to the county the land or location so sold or donated, in fee simple without reservation or con- | .ls |. .E Al. f fs.l.