Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-03-31
M@isfellaneuns '&eaaiug.
THE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
An Abstract of the Statutes of South Carolina
Relating to Roads and Bridges.
John S! Nerner, Esq.,, in Ksores Courier.

| Relating to Roads anu BrlugeSs
John S. Verner, Esq.,, IN Ksoues Courier.
THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF COUNTY COM.
MIssIoNERs.
Article 4, Section 10, of the Constitution
of South Carolina, gives the County Commits.
sioners jurisdiction over Highways, Roads
and Bridges.
HIGHWAYS AND ROADS.
They have power to open new public roads
and to discontinue old ones. In order to open
new public road they are required to ap.
point Special Commissioners, whose duty it is
to survey the route of the road proposed, to
lay out the same, and advertise it three
months, in the settlement through which the
intended road is to pass. For such work
Special Commissioners are allowed So per day
and mileage five cents per mile-for necessa:
ry travel 18th Statutes, Page $40, Section
13, Act 29th March, 1875. The right of ap-
peal lies in the decision of Special Commits
sioners, in the same manner and with like au-
thority, as is allowed by law from the acts of
County Commissioners. When road is so
laid out it is to be recorded by the County
Commissioners and ordered worked as other
roads. Sections % and %, Chapter A, Revised
Statutes.
In order to discontinue any public highway
the Commissioners must give three months
public notice in the settlement through which
the road to be discontinued passes Provided,
That no objection is made, they can thereafter
discontinue the road so advertised. But if
there is objection, then the road remains a
public highway until discontinued by law.
Section u, 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 Com
missioners annually appoint one Superinten-
dent to serve one year from date of his ap-
point'uent. The person appointed Superin-
tendent must be liable TO road duty and a
resident Of the district for which he is ap-
pointed. The Superintendent has general su-
pervision of the roads and highways in his
district under the direction of the Commits
sioners. The Commissioners have power to
remove Superintendent. Act December 24th,
1879.
Roads leading from any part of the State
directly to Charleston, Georgetown, Colum-
bia, Camden, Hamburg and Cheraw are to
be made and cleared thirty feet wide by Com
missioners. All other public roads are to be
kept twenty feet wide. Section 5, Chapter
Al, Revised Statutes. Public roads in each
highway district shall be posted and number
ed, and at each fork of said roads a pointer
must be placed. declaring the direction of
each road. Section 6, Chapter a., Revised
Statutes. By Act of March 18th, 1872,
page 2l5, any failure upon the part of Com
missioners to post number and place pointers,
as directed, is regarded a misdemeanor, and
upon conviction they are subject to fine not
exceeding $500, aud imprisonment not eS-,
ceeding six months, either or both, at the dis.
cretion of the Judge before whom they are
tried. In the counties comprising James Is
land, Johns Island, Wadamalaw, 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 thereon. Such permission expires at
the expiration Of two years if not renewed
Section 13, Chapter Al, Revised Statutes. If
corporate authorities Of towns, villages and
cities neglect or refuse to keep in repair the
highways and streets in their respective towns,
&C., the County Commissioners have power
to order out persons liable to road duty in
said town, &C., to repair the same. Section
II, Chapter A, Revised Statutes.
The County Commissioners of Charleston
County have power to appoint FIVE District
Superintendents of Roads, whose duty it shall
be to take charge OF all roads and not exer-
else jurisdiction over bridges not exceeding
fifteen feet in length in their respective dis
tricts District Superintendents appoint over
seers. who assist them in repairing the roads
Bridges exceeding one hundred dollars in
value are to be let out by contract as provi.
ded by law; when they do not exceed that
amount they are let out by the District Su-
perintendent, in whose bounds the bridge is
located, at private contract 1t is the duty of
Commissioners to exercise general supervision
over the roads in said county. Act Decem-
ber "a, 1878, Page 772.
Bridges are to be built and repaired under
the supervision of the County Commissioners.
IF the work to he done on old or new bridges
exceeds one hundred dollars then it is to be
performed by contract, with the lowest re.
sponsible 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 fifteen days no.
tce in the county paper and in writing duly
posted in the neighborhood in which such
work is to be performed, giving notice that
the Commissioner of the section in which
such work is to be performed will be at such
a place. on such Il day and hour, with suita-
BILE specifications, to let out such work to the
lowest, bidder, and to take from the success
full bidder sufficient bond for the faithful per-
formance of his duty. When the work is
done it shall be inspected by the Commission
er letting it out, whose duty it should be to
report the result of his investigation to 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 boundary line between
counties, shall he necessary to he erected or
repaired. it shall be the duty Of County Com
missioners of such counties to cause the same
to be erected or repaired, in the manner
aforesaid, each county bearing an equal share
of the expenses so incurred. And when any
II