The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-04-13
The Road Law.

late session Of the Legislature. Some
one has been circulating n report
that men are compelled to work
twelve days each year upon the roads
under the new law. This is not
true, as anyone will find who will
read the law. 1t fixes q minimum
time of two days and q maximum
time of four days. And the County
Court can do away with labor on the
roads altogether, if it SO desires, and
keep the roads up entirely by taxa.
ton, Below we append a few sect.
ions of the law, as follows:
/. The road precincts as now es-
tablishcd in the several counties in
this State, shall remain until chang.
ed by the county court.
2. The county court of a county
may divide the several districts
therein into convenient road pre-
cincts, and may from time to
time change the boundaries of such
precincts, and increase or diminish
the number thereof. The precincts
in each district shall be distinguish
ed by consecutive numbers, and the
boundary lines thereof shall be recor.
ded in the proceedings of the court.
3. No road precinct shall include
any part of an incorporated village,
town or city, which by the provis-
ions of its charter keeps its own
roads, streets and alleys in order,
notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in the preceding
sections.
4. The county court of every coun-
ty, shall in the year 1881, and in
every second year thereafter, appoint
q surveyor Of roads for each precinct
Of their respective counties, who is a
resident of the precinct for which he
may be appointed, and whose term
of office shall be for two years from
the first of January succeeding his
appointment. Vacancies in said Of.
fee shall be filled by the county
court, from time to time as they may
occur, and shall be for the unexpired
term; every such surveyor shall give
bond, with security in such penalty
as the court shall prescribe, condi-
toned that he will pay and account
for all moneys which shall come to
his hand by virtue Of his office, &C.
cording to law.
5. Ifany person appointed by such
surveyor refuse to serve, he shall for
felt twenty dollars, but the county
court Of the county may for good
cause remit such forfeiture; and a
person who has served one term, may
refuse 10 serve the next term, with
out being subject to any penalty
therefor.
G. The clerk of every county court
shall, without delay, make out and
deliver to the sheriff of his county, a
certified copy of every order appoint,
ing surveyor of a road, and it shall
be the duty Of such sheriff to deliver
the same 10 the person so appointed
before the commencement of his term
of Office, or as soon thereafter as pos,
sible, and upon the failure Of either
of said officers to comply with the
provisions of this section, he shall be
fined ten dollars.
Z. Every surveyor of roads shall
perform the following duties within
bis road precinct, that is to say: He
shall superintend the county roads
and bridges, cause the same to be
put in good order and repair, of the
proper width, well drained and TO be
cleared and kept clear of rocks, fall.
ing timber, land slides, carcasses. Of
dead animals and other Instructions.
He shall cause to be opened and
made, all new county roads and alt.
erations of former roads ordered bv
proper authority. He shall cause to
be placed and kept at the forks or
crossing of every county road a
board, on which shall be stated
in plain letters, the most noted place
to which each road leads. Across ev.
cry stream, where it is necessary and
practicable, he shall cause to be
placed and kept a sufficient bridge,
bench or log, for the accommodation
Of foot passengers. Where any more
important bridge is necessary, and it
is practicable for him to have it made
with the money and labor which is
ut his disposal, by virtue of his office,
he shall cause it TO be made safe and
convenient, and at least twelve feet
broad, with u railing not less than
three feet high on each side. He
shall notify or cause to be notified
all persons who are liable by law to
work on the roads, Of the time and
place Mt which they are required In