The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-02-17

'--~~e - ~'''Ns'f otC CuaIttN
synopsis Of the provisions Of Dr. LutOns
new road lAz, and. deeming it OF very
great importance to our people, we ASK
for IL respectful consideration;
SIC. I. The provisions OF the ect Apply
70 Hickman, Fulton aud Todd coun'ies
and requires .ne county court maJorIf
OF the justices concurring, 70 dlViue 'hs
counties into road districts, at the apr,
term, after the passage of this ac'i anu
20 appoint commissioners for each ROAD
district, residents of the district Tor
which they are appointed one OF wnom
shall be clerk and treasurer OF ms uis,
tricti and they shall have contToi o. All
pnolio roads in their. respective distric'S
provided that no Justice Of the Peace shaiI
be appointed commissioner
SEC. 2. Requires the county. court at
the January term, 1888. and every years
thereafter, 10 elect these district roah
commissioners, and TO alter and change
road districts as they may think best
SEc. 3. Authorizes the county court 10
assess the number of days to be worked
by the road hands, aud assess the tax Ter
road purposes.
SIC. 4. Provides that the tax for road
purposes shall not be less than nor more
than 10 cents on each 500 worth OF tax
able property; and all taxes 50 Collected
shall be used for maintaining the high
ways in the road districis in which the
property assessed is located; snd the tax
shall be collected by the constable in each
road district, and shall pay The same to
the treasurer OF said rosf district
SEC 5. All persons nov required by
! law to work on public roads shall work
not less than 8 nor more than days each
year; the work TO be lone n; any time The
oversssr shall give two days notice; any
hand may be exempted by paying 81
day, or sending an able bodied substitute,
or furnishing team, ploW, wagon, Sc,
according to stipulaiions.
SIC 6. Persons desiring to commute
for his road tax in work can do so at rates
laid down in this section, but the overseer
shall have the right TO specify the kind of
teams or implements the tax payer shall
furnish.
SIC. Z. Provides that persons desiring
TO commute for their road tax can do 80
by obtaining from oversser receipt for
work done to the amount OF their taxes,
Endorsed by the commissioners.
SIC 8. Provides that the district treas
ursr shall give bond, with two or more
good aud sufficient securities, for the
faithful performances of duty, Sc, and
said bond enforced and collected as other
official bonds and the other commission
srs qualified by oath.
SIC 8. Gives the CON mi ssionsrs control
Of all road tosls places the overseers
under their control authorizes them to
buy timber, material, &c, necessary for
their roads; but prohibits them from con-
tracting any debt to be paid out Of any
future levy; and refers all disputes be-
tween hands and overseers 10 the COM
missioners for fnah decision.
SEC. 10 Authorizes the commissioners
TO appoint overseers, who shall have
charge OF not less than two nor more than
ten miles OF road, and requires the over
seer to live on or near said road.
SEC. IL. Requires the treasurers to rem
der itemized statements to The county
court in January Of each year.
SEC. II. Gives overseers power to dis
miss any hand who shall fail or refuse to
do good and efficient work, or keep other
hands from working, or shall fail or re-
fuse to obey any reasonable order given
by the Oversesr, and be proceeded against
as though be failed to obey the summons.
SEC. IL. Overssers shall keep correct
account with hands, and report same to
treasurer between the LIST of January and
the Goth of October in each year.
SEC IA. Requires the county court to
classify the roads into LIST aud md class,
and have same recorded in the county
clerks office.
- sssss hands asf 70 F0s1sss
SEC. 10. Requires overseersio keep open |
bitches on each side of their road Of |
sufficient depth to drain thea, and shall |
construct the roads TO slope from the /
centre to each side ditch, shall remove all 4
leaning trees, over-hanging limbs, or
other distractions, and grade their road |
40 uvslth 1F - = r..
drst class roads, and not less than IA feet
for second class roads; but the county
court may suspend these requirements on
any part of roads whore the same is i'm
practicable.
SEC. IL. Provides that any person who
shall put any obstruction on any highway,
shall be fined not less than S nor more
than S25 for each ofsEse,
SEC. 1S.-ProVides that any commits
sionsr or overseer for willfuly failing TO
perform any duty, or showing any par
shall be fined SIS, 90, to be recov-
cred before a Justice of the Peace; and
for continued neglect, may be fnsd 500;
fines for road purposes; but il shall be q
good defense when such parties have ap-
piled all labor and taxes of the district in
good faith to such road.
SEC. l9.--Rsquires commiaioners and
overseers to give as many days Of official
service, without pay therefor, a. other
road hands; and thereafter for days actual
ly engaged 81 shall be allowed.
SEC. 20.-Exe mpts incorporated towns
now exempt.
SEC. 2l.-Requires sheriff to notify COM
missioners and ovsrseers of appointment,
&C., under penalty Of 50 hne.
SEC. 22.--Applicalion to open, change,
or close a road, shall be made to eommis-
sioners, and il the road extends into two
or more districts, the commissioners shall
act jointly. Appeals to lie to the county
court
SEC. 23.-Gives county court power to
remove commissioners for cause.
SEC. 24.--The penalty for failure to
perform road duty shall be 81 for each
day and all costs, and ne description of
property exempt from execution.
SEC. 25.-Ovsrseers shall keep guide
posts at all cross roads, and foot logs over
all streams where there are no bridges.
SIC. 26.-Provides that the county
judge may place at hard labor and hard
work upon any road, any and all persons
who are now, or who may hereafter be
committed to the county jail under ca
pias profns, or under n judgment or or
der OF any court Of competent jurisdic-
tisn; and upon said order the jailsr shall
said overseer shall take charge Of, and be
responsible for, said prisoners and DUR
ing the time such persons are worked on
the roads, the jailer's fees for dieting
shall be paid out of the road tax herein
provided for; and provided such prison
ers shall De worked separate and apart
from the other road hands.
The above synopsis gives all the main
points of the bill, though Of course the Act
itself is more fully expressed. We endorse
the bill: and hope it will become law.
The present road laws insure bad roads, and
this country needs and must have good
roads Luton's bill covers every point that
we can think OF, though experience may.
and doubtless will, develop some defects, and
If 80 the improvements can be added some
time. Such law as he proposes has work
ed well in other States, and in some coun-
ties OF this State, and we believe under a
fair trial, will work we'll and satisfactorily,
in these counties II Ia a - f.ature In