The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-03-30
THE ROAD ACT PASSED.
Synopsis of the New Road Law.

h
! ing in both houses of the Genera
I Assembly of Tennessee and viii
: hereafter be the law governing oul
public roads 1t is quite cOmpre
hensive, and goes over all the re
quired considerations Though il
is not without some objections, il
is so far superior to the old road act
, that no one will hesitate to accept il
instead, especially if it is carried out
as its provisions contemplate:
SYNOPSIS OF THE ACT.
The County Courts of the State
shall divide the respective counties
into road districts at the first quar-
terly term after the passage of this
act, and elect three commissioners
for each road district, who shall be
residents Of their respective districts,
and who shall have control Of all
| highways and bridges, and serve
three, two and one year respectively.
AT each January term thereafter
the County Court shall elect one
commissioner for each road district
to serve three years, and may in
crease or diminish the number or
change the road districts of the
counties. At the first quarterly
term after the passage of this act,
and each January term thereafter,
the County Court shall assess the
number of days to be worked by
road hands and assess taxes for
highway purposes.
All male inhabitants over eigh-
teen and under fifty years, except
those permanently disabled, shall
work not less than three nor more
than six days on such highways
An able bodied substitute can be
sent, or one dollar day can be paid
in lieu of such work. Credit will
be given for teams, plOws OF wagons.
The highway tax shall not be less
than five nor more than fifteen cents
on the hundred dollars of taxable
property, and on privileges not more
than One-foUrth the county assess
ment The tax collected shall be
used for maintaining highways and
bridges in the road districts where
assessments are so made. Half the
tax may be collected in money, the
other half in work. The tax shall
be due the 1st of January Of each
year and suits for collection cannot
be brought before the following Oc-
tOber.
(The duties of sheriffs and county
court clerks as to their ministerial
duties are here set forth at length.) |
The commissioners shall classify
the roads in their districts as first
and second class, and make assign
ments of hands for such work.
The commissioners may appoint |
an overseer in charge of from three |
to ten miles of road. All applica-
tions to open, close or change roads |
shall be made to the district COM
missioners, who may grant or refuse |
the same. If granted, it must be |
submitted to the county court; if !
refused, an appeal may be taken.
The commissioners may contract |
with taxpayer for road work or
materials and give credit for work |
on private roads, and may contract |
for necessary tools, may purchase |
bridge materials, or for bridge build |
ing or other work, to be paid for
with any money in their hands, but |
not to contract any debt to be paid |
out of any future tax assessment, !
unless so authorized by the county |
court; but no contract shall be let
to a commissioner
The commissioners may remove
overseers from Office when deemed |
advisable.
Those refusing or failing to do
road work may be sued by the COM
before any justice Of the
peace, and fines, when collected,
may be used the same as highway
tax.
The district clerks shall visit each
voting place in their districts before
the 1st of September of each year
after giving twenty days notice,
posted in such precinct, and collect
and receipt for taxes due in money.
The constables will collect taxes not
paid or cOmmuted by the 1st Of Oc-
tober of each year, the same to be
collected as are other delinquent
taxes.
Overseers must be present and
all road work, and may
work the entire labor assessment at
one time or at different times.
If a highway becomes impossible,
casually, the overseer can give in
slant summons to any hands on the
section of the road to repair the
same, and shall give such hands
credit for future work.
ANY overseer may enter lands adj
Joining his section of road to con-
3truct necessary drains or bitches or
to obtain rock, gravel, timber or
1ther material necessary, provided
he can do so without material dam
age upon the owner or occupant OF
said land.
The commissioners shall furnish
giving distance to county
seats or other prominent places, for
all classified roads, and guide-posts
shall be put up at all forks or cross
roads, directing to most public
places.
The overseer shall give each tax
payer notice of taxes due, at least
three days before time to commence
said work.
All taxpayers upon their sections
Of roads shall have an opportunity
to commute for their highway tax
between the 1st Of January and the
lst of October of each year.
The overseers shall keep open
bitches on each side of roads, and
shall construct the roads to slope
from the center to these side bitches
and grade their roads to a width of
L., +boY, aiorbtaan feet on FIRST