The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-03-17
THE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
An Abstract OF tho Statutes OF South Car.
olina Relating to Roads and Bridges.

THE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
An Abstract OF tho Statutes OF South Car.
olina Relating to Roads and Bridges.
John S. Verner, Esq, in Keocee Courier.
THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS.
Article i, Section 10, OF the Constitu.
ton of South Carolina, gives the County
Commissioners jurisdiction over High.
ways, Roads and Bridges.
HIGHWAYS AND ROADS. a !.
They have power To- open. new public
roads and to discontinue old ones. In
order TO open new public road they are
required to appoint Special Commission.
ers, whose duty it is TO survey the route
of the road proposed, Ito lay out the same.
and advertise it for three months, in the
settlement through which the intended
road iR to pass For such work Special
Commissioners are allowed So per day
and mileage FIVE cents per mile-for
necessary travel. 18th Statutes. Page
$40, Section IS, Act 29th March. 1876.
The right of appeal lies in the decision
of Special Commissioners, in tie same
manner and with like authority, as is
allowed by law from the acts of County
Commissioners. When q road is so laid
out it is to be recorded by the County
Commissioners and ordered worked as
other roads. Section % and 8, Chapter
A, Revised Statutes.
In order to discontinue any public
highway the Commissioners must give
three months public notice in the settle
ment through which the road to be dis
continued passes; Provided, That no OBJ.
lection is made, they can thereafter dis
continue the road 30 advertised. But If
there is objection, then the road rsmais }
a public highway until discontinued by
law. Section y, Chapter A, Revised
Statutes.
By the Act approved December a,
1879, each township of the several
counties of the State is made highway
district. =
For each of these districts The County
Commissioners annually appoint one Su-
perintendent 70 serve one year from date
of his appointment. The person ap-
pointed Superintendent must be liable to
road duty and resident of the district
for which he is appointed. Tho Superin-
tendent has general supervision Of the
roads and highways in his district unde-
the direction of the Commissioners. The
Commissioners have power to remove
Superintendents. Act December oath,
1879.
Rosds leading from any part of the
State directly TO Charleston, Georgetown,
Columbia, Camden, Hamburg and Che.
raw are to be made and cleared thirty
feet wide by Commissioners. All other
public roads are to be kept twenty feet
wide. Section s, Chapter A, Revised
Statutes. Public roads in each highway
district shall be posted and numbered,
and at each fork of said roads pointer
must be placed, declaring the direction
of each rosd. Section 6, Chapter A,
Revised Statutes. BY Act of March 18th,
1872, page 2l5, any failure upon the part
of Commissioners to post, number and
place pointers, as directed, is regarded q
misdemeanor, and upon conviction they
are subject to a fine not exceeding $500,
and imprisonment not exceeding six
months. either or both, at the discretion
of the Judge before whom they are tried.
In the counties comprising James leland,
Johns Island, Wadmalaw, Edisto, st.
Helena, -Lady's Island and Hilton Head,
the Commissioners have power to permit
persons over whose lands public roads
run to erect gates th yeon. Such per.
mission expires at the expiration of two
years if not renewed. Section Is, Chap
ter ii, Revised Stotutes. If corporate
authorities of towns, villages and cities
neglect or refuse to keep in repair the
highways and streeta in their respective
towns, &C., the County Commissioners
have power to ordci out persons liable to
road duty in said town, &C., to repair the
same. =. Section II, Chapter "A, Revised
Statutes
The County Commissioners of Charles
ton County have power TO appoint five
District Superintendents ofRoads, whose
duty il shall be to take charge of all
roads end to exercise jurisdiction over
bridges not exceeding fifteen feet in
length in their respective Districts. Dis
trio: Superintendents appoint oyerseers,
who assist them in repairing the roads.
Bridges exceeding one hundred dollars in
value are to be let out By contract as pro-
vided by law; when they do not exceed
that amount they are let out by the Dis
trict Superintendent in whose bounds the
bridge is located at private contract. It
is she duty of Commissioners to exercise
county. Act December "a, 1878, Page
772. b a3.
Bridges are to be built and repaired
under, the supervision of the County
Commissioners. If the work to be done
on old or new bridges exceed one hun.
dred dollars then it,is to be performed by
contract, with the lowest responsible
bidder; when it does not exceed that
amount the Commissioners have power
to let out the work at private contract.
When the work exceeds one hundred
dollars the Commissioners shall give fif-
teen days notice in the county paper and
in writing duly posted in the neigbbor-
hood in which such work is to be per-
fc.GH:.eea, giving notice the. the Commits
sioner Of the section in which such work
is to be performed will be at such place,
on such day and hour, with suitable
specifications, 70 let out such work to the
lowest bidder, and TO take from the suc-
cessful bidder sufficient bond for the
faithful performance OF mis- duty. When
the work is done it shall be inspected by
the Commissioner letting it out, whose
duty it should be to report the result OF
his investigation tc the full Board, who
shall accept or reject the same, according
as they may determine, whether or not
the constructor has or has not complied
with the.terms of his contract
If any bridge over waters in this State,
which constitute aboundary line between
counties, ,Bhall be necessary to be erected
or repaifed) it shall be the duty of County
Commissioners of such counties to cause
the came to be erected or repaired, in the
manner aforesaid, each county bearing
an equal ahare of the expense so incurred.