Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-04-16
THE ROAD Law.
A N ACT to regulate the working and lay
ing out OF public roads.

Y See. IA. Opening and closing of highway
Sec. 10. Contract for labor and material.
: Sec. 16. Purchase of tools and material.
? Sec. IL. Removal of oveTseers and adjus
\ ment of disputes.
, Sec Is. Settlement with overseers
Sec. 10. Tax assessment furnished.
Sec. 20. Suit against hands.
Sec. q. Collections of taxes.
Sec. p. Payment of money.
, Sec. %. Work on roads.
Sec. "a. Instant summons, when.
Sec. 25. Entry of Enclosures.
Sec. 26. Mile posts.
Sec. q. Notice to taxpayers and receil
for work.
Sec. %. Taxes, communication, delinquent
Sec. %. Dismissal of hands.
Sec. 80. Roads, how worked
Sec. 81. New roads, width of.
sec. ~. Roads between districts.
Sec. 33. Obstruction of roads.
sec. "a. performance of duties.
Sec. 80. Removal of commissioners.
sec 20. Compensation of officers.
Sec. ~. Incorporated towns.
! Sec. 80. Copy of act furnished.
Sec. 80. Cost of litigation.
Sec. 40. Magistrates not eligible.
Sec. Al. Days work defined.
| Sec. AZ. Penalties.
Sec. 43. Repeal.
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by tn
General Assembly of the state o
Tennessee, That it shall be the dut,
of the County courts of each county
in the state to divide their respect
i've counties into road districts a
the first quarterly term after the
passage of this act, and to elec
three commissioners for each roaC
district, to be residents of the dis
tfict for which they are elected, the
one first elected for each district
and his successors to be the clerk
and treasurer of his district, and to
serve three years, dating from Jan
uary, 1881 the one next elected fol
each district, to serve two years,
dating from January 1881, and the
one last elected for each district to
serve one year, dating from Janu-
uary, 1881, and until their success
sors in Office are elected, and they
shall have control of all highways
and bridges in their respective dis
tricts.
SEC. 2. Be it further enacted,
That the County courts of the re-
spective counties at each January
term thereafter may increase or di-
miniSh the number and alter or
change the road districts of their
counties as they may deem best,
and shall elect one commissioner
for each road district, to serve three
years, and shall fill all vacancies for
commissioner at any quarterly
term, such commissioners to serve
only the unexpired terms of their
predecessors.
SEC. 3. Be it further enacted,
That the County court of each
county shall at the first quarterly
term after the passage of this act,
and at each January term there
after, assess the number of days to
be worked by the road hands upon
the highways, and assess the tax for
highway purposes.
SEC. 4. Be it further enacted,
That all male inhabitants over fif-
teen and under fifty years of age, ex-
cept such as are prematurely dis
abled from performing common
labor are released by the commits
shall work not less than
three nor more than six days, upon
the highways each year, the work
to be done at any time the overseer
shall give three days notice of the
time and place to commence. Any
road hand SO notified may be ex-
from work by sending an
able-bodied substitute, or by pay
ing one dollar for each day, or by
furnishing any team or plow or
The Overseer may require
to be allowed credit for the same,
as provided in the next section.
SEC. 5. Be it further enacted,
That the tax for highways shall be
not less than two nor more than fif-
fc oil I.1,
of taxable property, as shown by
the county assessment, and on priv
ileges not more than one-fourth the
county assessment. All taxes as
sessed under this act and collected |
as hereafter provided shall be used |
for maintaining the highways and !
bridges in the road districts in |
which the assessment is made. The |
County court may order an amount |
not more than one-half of the high
way tax collected in money. The |
may be paid in work upon
the highways at the following rates: !
For each each days work by an |
efficient hand, $1.00; for each days |
work by one horse with plOW or
scraper $1.00; for each days work |
with two horses or yoke of oxen,
with wagon or plOW, $500, and |
for other service such credit as the |
may allow, but the
0verseer shall have the right to
specify the kinds of teams or inn
plements the hands or Taxpayers
shall furnish, but no person shall be
required to furnish any team or i'm
Dlement not owned by him.
Sec. 8. Be it further enacted,
That all highway tax shall be due
he first day of January each year,
out no suit for collection shall be
brought before the first of the fol-
owing October, and all parties fail
ng to commute for the part of their
AK that may be paid in work when
Notified by the Overseer at any
md first of October, shall pay the
Iame in money, unless for good
'eason the commissioner shall
otherwise order.
SEC. Z. Be it further enacted,
That the county court clerks shall,
within ten days after the election of
my mmissiOner, deliver to the
heriffs of their counties duplicate
certificates Of the election of each
specifying the clerks
md treasurers and giving the
pounds of their districts, and the
heriffs shall deliver one copy to
zach commissioner and make his
eturn upon the other within ten
lays, said copy to be filed in the
county court clerks Office. And for
allure therein, any clerk or sheriff
hall forfeit and pay five dollars for
Zach offense, to be recovered before
/ justice of the peace, by any road
land or tax payer of such commits
ioner's district; such penalties to
De paid the several clerks for the
benefit of the roads.
SEC. 8. Be it further enacted,
That the county court clerk shall
within thirty days after the assess
nent of the highway tax for the
year 1881, and by the first day of
March for each year thereafter, pre-
pare for each district clerk a COM
llete assessment of the highway
ak for his district for that year,
ipecifying the amount each tax
payer may pay in work, and the
amount to be collected in money,
md shall take the district
Jerks receipt for the same when
delivered.
SEC. 8. Be it further enacted,
That each commissioner, before en-
terlng upon the duties of his Office,