The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-04-15
PtsLIo HrGHwzHs,
Full Text of the New Law.
A Matter of More importance
to the People than the
state Debt ~

10 tlOU q Ia W
An act to regulate the working az,
u laying out Of Public Roads.
! Section L. Be it enacted by tn
general assembly of the state of Ten
nessee. that it shall be the duty of tn
county courts of each county in tn
state to divide their respective coun
= ties into road districts, at the frs
hguarterly telm after the passage 0
I this act, and to elect three commits
gioners for each road districS sc. b.
residents of the district for which the
are elected. the one first elected fo
\ his. district and his successors to b,
the clerk and treasurer Of his district
and to serve three years. dating from
January, 1881;the one next elected
| for each district to serve two years
dating from January, 1881, and ,th,
/ last elected in each district to serv,
one year, dating from January, 1881
and until their successors Ia office are
elected and quali6ed; and they shal
have coGtrol of all highways anC
bridges in their respective districts.
Sec,v g, BE it further enacted, thai
| TIE county scourts Of the respective
counties, at each January term there
after, may increase or diminish lht
number, and alter or change the road
districts of their counties as they may
deemrbest. and shall elect one com
missioner for each road district tC
lserve three years, and, shall ill all va
cancies Of commissioner at any quar-.
terly term, such commissioners tc
serve only the unexpired term of their
predecessors.
Section 8. Be it further enacted,
that the county court of each county
shall, atthe first quarterlyterm after
the passage of this act, and at each
January term thereafter, assess the
number Of days to he worked by tie
road hands upon the highways, and
assess the tax for highway purposes.
Sec. 4. BAsitfnrther enacted, that
all maIeihhabitants over eighteenand
under fifty years ofage, except such
as are permanently disabled from per-
forming common labor and are re
leased by the commissioners, shall
work nos less. than three nor more
than six days upon the highways each
year. the word to be done at any time
the overseer shall give three days no.
tice of the time and place to COM
mence. Any road. hapd SO notified
shall be exempt by sending an able
bodied substitute. or by giving one
dollar for each day, or by furnishing
any team and plow or wagon the ev.
erseer may require, to be allowed a
credit for the same as provided in the
next section.
Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, that
the tax for highways shall not be less
than two nor more than fifteen cents
on each hundred dollars of,taxable
property as shown by the county as
sessment; and on privileges, not more
than one-fourth the county assess
ments. All taxes assessed under this
act, and collected as hereafter provi-
ded, shall be used for maintaining
the highways and bridges in the road
districts i'll which the assessment is
made. The county court may order
not more than one-half the highway
tax collected in money; the balance
may be paid in work upon the high
ways at the following rates: For each
days work by an efficient hand, one
dollar; for each days work by one
horse, with plow or scraper, one dol
lar; for each days work with two
horses or yoke of oxen, with a wagon
or pIow, two dollars; and for other
service, such credit as the commits
sioners may allow, but the ,overseers
shall have the right to specify the
kind of teams or implements the
hands or tax payers shall be required |
to furnish, but no person shall be re-
quiled to furnish any team or imple-
ment not owned by him.
Sec. 6. Be it-further enacted, that |
all highwaygtax shall be due the first
Of january each year, but no suit for
shall be brought before the
the first of the following October, and
all parties falling to commute for tie
part of their tax that may be paid in
work when notified by the overseer.
At any time between said FIRST of Jan,
nary and first of October. shall pay
The same in money, unless for good
reasons the commissioner shall other
wise order.
Sec. Z. Be it further enacted, that
he county court clerks shall, within
.en DAYS after the election Of any com>
deliver to the sherifs Of
heir counties duplicate certificates of
he election Of each commissioner,
ipecifying the clerks and treasurers,
Ind. giving the bounds of their dis
,ricts, and the sheriff shall deliver one
:opy to each commissioner and make
lis return upon the other within ten
lays, said copy to be fled in the coun-
y court clerks Office, and for failuse
herein any clerk or sheriff shall fef.
cit and pay five dollars for each Of
ense, to be recovered before any jus
ice of the peace by aay road hand Or
axpayer of such commissioners dis
riet, such penalties to. be paid the
everal clerks for the benefit of the
Dads.
Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, that ,
he county court clerk shall, within
hirty days after the assessment ofthe'l
ighway tax for the year 1881. and
ySthe first daylof March for each .
ear thereafter, prepare for each. dis, 4
fict clerk complete assessment f1-
lie highway tax for his district foi.
he year, specifying the amount each
TX payer NAV pay in work and the I
mount to be collected in money, and
hall take the district clerks recefptfs
Or the same when delivered. Ii
Sec 8. BE it further enacted. that
sch commissioner, before entering ,
pom the duties Of his Office, shall sub
,ribe to an cath before the county !
ourt CLERK, or before some justice of
be peace, To be filed by him With
nd clerk, that he will to the best of /
is ability, discharge all the duties of I
is ofiicc and properly account for all .
loney and ether property that may 7
ONE into his hands by virtue of his I
fice, and the district clerks shall, be- !