The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-03-22
Public Local Law.
OPERATIVE IN CECIL COUNTY.
published By AUTHORITY.
Chapter 4 >
AN ACT


read as follows:
SECTION /. BE it enacted by the General assembly
of Maryland. That an Act passed January session.
1874 chapter 1876, entitled AN Act in relation to
public roads in Cecil county and TO repeal all acts
parts of acts inconsistent with the provisions OF
this act" be and the same is hereby repealed and
re-enacted as to read as follows:
SEC . Ind be ii enacted, That the County Com
missioners OF Cecil county be and they are hereby
authorized and directed to divide. once IN every
two years, said county into three divisions. each
embracing three election districts, and 10 assign
one of their number to each of said divisions who
shall have general charge of all roads and bridges
and shall give general supervision To all roads
and bridge work done in his division.
SEC. 3. And be IL enacted, That said Commission
shall. upon the passage OF this Act. divide the
First Second Third. Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and
Seventh election districts OF said county each into
three road districts, and the Eighth and Ninth
election districts each into two road districts; and
whenever they shall deem it necessary to do so,
may change the boundaries of said road districts:
and the said Commissioners shall appoint Tor each
road district Road Commissioner. who shall hold
his Office for the number OF years. not exceeding
three, dating from the first day OF January, 1854.
that the County Commissioners may specify at
the time of making said appointment: and there
shall be appointed in the First, Second, Third,
Fourth Fifth Sixth and Seventh election dis
tricts one Road Commissioner for one year, one
for two and one Tor three years, and in the Eighth
and Ninth election districts, one for one year aid
one for two years and one of the said Commits
soners in each election district shall be appointed
from the political party opposite IN opinion TO the
the second Tuesday of December in every year
the County Commissioners shall appoint one Road
Commissioner each for the First. Second, Third,
Fourth Fifth Sixth and Seventh election districts
TO serve three years from the first day Of Janu
airy OF the following year. and one Road Commits
sioner each for the Eighth and Ninth election dis
tricts to for two years from the first day OF
January OF the following year. said appointments
10 be SO made that there will always be. in each
election district, one Commissioner from the mi
nority political party; and in case of a vacancy
from death. resignation, removal, inability or re
tusal OF any Road Commissioner to act, the Coun-
~ Commissioners shall fill said vacancy by ap-
pontment TOR the unexpired term but if any Road
Commissioner shall be only temporarily disabled.
though prevented from the performance Of his
he may select one of the other Commissioners in
the election district to act in his place: and no
Road Commissioner shall become the Supervisor
OF any read.
sec l. And be il eaGcted, That the said Road
Commissioners shall. when they have received
their commissions from the CLERK OF the County
Commissioners, subscribe to the following oath or
affirmation before the said Clerk or any Justice
OF the Peace in Cecil county: a. --, Road
Commissioner for the - election district Cecil
county do soemnly swear (or atrml that will
well and faithfully discharge all the duties i'm
posed upon me by law and endeavor earnestly and
honestly without fear. favor or affection. to so
administer my Office as to promote the public wei
fare, so help me God which shall be attached
to each commission. and copy filed in the office
OF the County Commissioners: and as soon as the
Road Commissioners first appointed under this
Act shall have thus qualified, they shall with the
tive election districts proceed to contract for keep
Ing the public roads in good repair Tor Il term OF
three years from the first day of April, 1854: and
in like manner their successors shall prior 10 the
expiration Of every three wears thereafter, make
new contracts for the same work. said contracts to
date from the first day OF April OF the year in
which they shall be made; and the said contracts
shall he awarded to the lowest responsible and
accepted bidders at public auction of the roads
to be held in each election district by the Road
Commissioners and County Commissioner in
charge of said district ut such time and place as
they may select.due notice Oi which shall be given
by publication in the county papers and by hand
bills set up in public p ices: provided that said
roads be offered in sections as laid out by the
County Commissioner in whose division they may
be located, according to road districts and as
shown plats filed in the office ri the County
Commissioners said sections to embrace the road
way CT all bridges ami tho iuFdings o. all streams
located thereon, and that no contract be awarded
TO any person residing beyond the limits Of the
road districts in which the section bid for by him
is located: and provided further. that the Road
Commissioners and County Commissioner may
the right to reject any or all bids: and each
person to whom Il contract shall be awarded shall
give a good and sufficient bond, with ample Secur
ity, to the County Commissioners III penalty
double the amount al his contract. conditioned for
the faithful discharge OF the duties imposed upon
him by law. said bond to be approved by the said
Road Commissioners and County Commissioners
and filed with the contract of said person, in the
Office of the County commissioners: but II the
Road Commissioners and County Camlni ssioners
shauid i4ii u goll any .eOtiul e; rua.l at public
auction. they shall, as soon as practicable, con
tract privately for the same with some resident OF
the road district in which the section is located.
at the lowest reasonable amount. under the same
conditions that regulate the keeping and good re-
pair Of other sections. and falling in this. they
shall place said section under the special charge
of the Road Commissioner i'll whose road district
it is located, and who shall eNpend in repairs and
i'm ,rovements thereon such amounts of money
the County Commissioners may order: and not
more than one section OF road shall he contracted
Ior with any one person. unless it shall he wholly
Impossible to do o.herwisei and the said Road
Commits -iolefz ard 0aUnty Commissioner shall
report promptly to the County Commissioners all
the proceedings under this section; but the selling
OF al roads and the awarding OF ali contracts shall
he controlled by the Road Commissioner in each
road district in conjunction with the County Com
missioner in charge of the election district: and
when new road shall have been opened the
County Commissioners shall contract Tor the re-
pair Of the same, in the same manner as for other
roads until the next regular award NJ OF contracts
Tor roads shall occur: and it shall be set forth in
Ill contracts under this section that the persons
contracting shat! be hQunf 10 keep the roads in
their charge in the condition, required ny this Act
without reference to the aTGunt bid by them at
The public auction Of satd roads or agreed upon
between them and the Road Commissioners and
County Commissioner as the contract price Tor
keeping the same in repair.
SEC j. Aud be it enacted, That the contractors
under the atoregoing section shall be known as
Road Supervisors and it shall be the duty OF said
Supervisors to keep the roads in their charge at
all times in good repair. SO as to afford Tree safe
mud easy massage over the same. said roads to he
res from all uverha n9n9 and protesting limbs or
bushes from ali rats. holes. loose stones. brush
rubbish
the center than at the sides. except when other
wise ordered by the County Commissioners. ana
with clear open bitches Of Sufficient capacity and
grade to carry off the water: the Supervisors shall
give prompt notice to the Road Commissioner in
charge OF their road district OF any injury done TO
the bridges IN the raada N their Gharge aHI. also
OF aay uniaW u obstruction placed ON s;lld roads:
and ;nv Supervisor falling to perform TIE alore-
going duties shall be liable to Indictment ny the
Grand Jury and upon conviction Shail nc hhed
not more than one hundred nor less than twenty
five dollars with costs and If the same cannot be
recovered from the said Supervisor his bond snail
he liable for the payment thereof the fine to he
paid the County Treasury TO the credit OF the
road and bridge account: and the County tOm-
p,lsel,ner5, upup the complaint To Them III "!tinS
: al any lesponsible Llt-en ana ta.liayer " inc
. county, OF upon the report al any READ Comihls-
,>ioner OF County Commissioner that any super
Visor s derelot in his duty. shall cauSe sum
sni0ns directed to the Sheriff OF the county 10 ne
" ISSUED by their Clerk commanding SAID SuierNis
3ar to appear before them on day named ny them
0 answer said complaints report and II he
sail fail to make satisfactory answer or shall re-
Sc to appear, the Commissioners SHAH ht once
tcare him removed from Office and shall direct
e Road Commissioners in charge OF the road
strict where said Supervisor resides to take
rge u1 his road and repair the same during me
lalnde. Ut the term Of said supervisor, ana the
d of said Super isor shall be iiiile Grail csts
aid repairs in excess Of amount of contractand
Il he sued On by the County Commissioners to
said costs il the snreties shall refuse TO
' lie came; but if the suretes desire ~ have
Il their nuinter, lesid0nt ui his road district
aioi the sad road is located, or some other
ole person residing IN sllu District 10 lihV
Ae OF the road, he may he appointed ny the
sty Commissioners 10 succeed said SuperN!Sn
siall be required TO execute 1t new contract
s,nd for the remainder o! the term: the same
all apply In cases of death or removal from
,nty of any Supervisor: and in the hearing
tplaint or report against a Supervisor the
Commissioners shall allow ample time
kppegrange ai tho accused apl zha!i SUR
~ H. EN- any ,.Itnos ses tEaF ~ may ask
Dtrd III mis- behalf and alsp AM witnesses
41at may be necessary to sustain the complaint
- ,,r rep,,ri and the bonds OF the Supervisors shall
be liable for the damages sustained by any one,
in person property i'll consequence OF the neg
lp,t Il dGt, upn: the I,aTt Of said a9perytaors;
Sc B. Ard Ee e GhGLEaI. That tit k,ai Com
.aissionerS shall have immediate charge OF all
prdges sluices and trunks in their respective
road districts and shall keep the same at all
tmcs In sails a;ta substantial condition. and shall
,na4E all Necessary teraire al Improvements
tngrstG not exceeding in cost more than fiitcen
dollars ia any clio case unlOss ordered by the
County Commissioners 10 eSpoHi IA larger aun III
said repairs o. improvements and It shall he the
duty OF said Road Commissioners, prior TO the
second Tuesday Of every month, TO inspect the
roads and bridges in their respective road districts.
and report in writing the condition "i the same to
the County Commissioners at their regular meet
tnc in said month, with any recommendations
;nat rney ;i4y gesifp to iNaha. anu Tit'. stSte
a.ent OF the L0afs OF IGpalls u lippIot enelI s
made b. them mp TO that tiute. attaching to said
siatcment All ida, it In tue usual !orr, and they
shall alsQ. at thE SANG time, rep4:t II the County
san mssianGrs the name al any Supervisor VINO
rag naye ialib4 y pe,1Fa H. atIet ~ nInoifs
election district. with the County tamn !sSlner
IN charge Of said district, shall make. prior to the
nrst day Of each Of tho months of j lnuary, hprii.
July and CGtatbr IN the each 2eari i gef'SrH! ia
s,,ecti0h CT tno r6aaS thufein, and shall determine
whether said roads are in the condition required
by law. and report dior determination to the
County Commissioners; and Immediately after