The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-03-15
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
lfublic Local Law.
OPERATIVE IL CECIL COUNTY.
Chapter 10.
AN ACT
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY.

1000, CudpleI liD, entitled Al itU III
relation to public roads in Cecil county,
and to repeal all acts or parts Of acts
inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act" and to rc-enact the same so as to
read as follows
SECTION /. BE rHdcicd By The G'RcrGi assembly
Of Maryland, That an Act passed January session,
1874 chapter 1913. 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this act be and the same Is hereby repealed and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 so AS to read as follows:
SEC. =. ind b. Il enacted, That the County Com
mlSsioners 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 to 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. =. And be ii enacted. That said Commission
ers 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 il necessary to do SO.
may change the boundaries OF said road districts:
and the said Commissioners shallappoint ioreach
road district a 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 he 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, for one year ard
one for two years, and one of the said Commits
sioners in each election district shall be appointed
from the political party opposite in opinion to the
majority of the County Commissioners: and on
the second Tuesday of December in every wear
the County Commissioners shall apo. mt one Road
Commissioner each Tor the First. Second, Third.
nd npfh all rinr, trin
to Tor three wears from first day of Janu
airy OF the following year, and one Road Commits
sioner each for the Eighth and Ninth election dis
trcts TO serve Tor two years from the first day of
January OF the following year, said appointments
10 be 80 made that there will always be. in e-ch
election district. one Commissioner from the mi
nority political party; and in ease of a vacancy
from death. resignation, removal. inability re
iusal OF any Road Commissioner TO act. the CouL-
ty Commissioners shall I'LL sad vacancy by ap-
pointment Tor the uneNpired term: but if any Road
though prevented from the performance of his
duties his office shall not be deemed vacant and
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 road
SEC l. Ind be il enacted. That the said Road
Commissioners shall when they have received
their commissions IRON the Clerk OF the County
Commissioners subscribe 10 the following oath or
affirmation before the said Clerk any Justice
OF Il e Peace in Cecil county: 81, --. Road
Commissioner Tor the - election district OF Cecil
county, do Soemny swear Tor affirm that Will
well and faithfully discharge all the duties i'm
posed upon Inc by law and endcavor earnestly md
honestly. without fear. favor or affection. To so
administer my office as to promote the public well
fare, so help me God, which shall be attached
to each commission, and a copy filed in the office
OF the County Commissioners: and rs soon as the
Road Commissioners first appointed under this
Act shall have thus qualified. they shall with the
County Commissioner in charge OF their respec-
tive election districts, proceed TO contract Cor keep
Ing the public roads i'll good repair ion term Of
three wears from the first dav OF April, 1854: and
in like manner their successors shall prior to the
expiration OF every three Years thereafter make
new contracts for the work said contracts to
date from the first day Of April OF the year III
which they shall be made: and the said contracts
snail he awarded To the lowest responsible and
accepted bidders at public auction Of the roads
to he held i'll each election district by the Road
Commissioners and County Commissioner in
charge oi said district, at such time and place as
they may selcct,due notice Of which shall be given
by publication in the county papers and by hand
bills set up in public places: 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. aud as
shown on plats filed III the office OF the County
Commissioners said sections TO embrace the road
ways oil all bridges ana the iordlngs OF all streams
located thereon. and that no contract he awarded
to any person residing beyond the limits of the
road districts in which the section hid Tor by him
is located: and provided further. that the Road
Commissioners ami County Commissioner may
reserve the right 10 reject any all bids: and each
person to whom contract shall be awarded shall
give Il good AMI sufficient bond. with ample sccur-
NY, to the County Commissioners in a penalty
double the amount of 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. i'll the
office OF the County Commissioners: hut if the
Road Commissioners and County Commissioners
should fail to sell any section OF road at public
auction. they shall. soon as practicable con
tract privately Tor the same with 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 cha
OF the Road Commissioner in whose road district
1t Is located. and who shall eXpend i'll repairs and
i'm, roycmcnts thereon such amounts of money as
the County Commissioners may order: and not
more than one section Of road shall be contracted
Tor with any one person, unless ii shall he wholly
impossible 10 Il" otherwise: and the said Road
Commissioners and County Commissioner shall
report promptly TO the County Commissioners all
the proceedings under this section: but the selin.
OF all roads and the awarding U all contracts shall
he controlled by the Road Commissioner in each
road district III conjunction with the County Com
missioner in charge OF the election district: and
when new road shall have bccu opened the
County Commissioners shall contract tor the re-
pair vi the same. in the same manner as for other
roads, until the next regular awarding of contracts
Tor roads shall occur and it shall he set forth in
all contracts under this section that the persons
contracting shall he bound to keep the roads in
their charge in the condition required by this Act
without reference to the amudnG bid by them at
the public auction OF said roads or agreed upon
between them ami the Road Commissioners and
County Commissioner a. the contract price ior
Eeeping the same in repair
SEC 3. A.lG 81 Il tRartcd. That the contractors
under the aiuregOing section shalt he known as
Road Supervisors and it shall he the duty of said
supervisors to keep the roads in their charge at
all times in good repair so us TO afford free, e
and easy passage over the same. said roads TO be
an al i,pI
bushes. from all IutS, holes, loose stones brush
and rubbish Of every kind whatsoever. higher in
the center than at the sides. except when other
wise ordered by the County Commissioners, and
with clear open bitches OF Sufficient pacity and
grade to carry oil the water: the SHperN isOrs shall
give prompt notice 10 the Road Commissioner in
charge OF their road district OF any injury done IL
the bridges on the loads in their charge and also
OF any unlawful obstruction placed on said roads
and any Supervisor failing 10 perform the aiUre-
"oin" duties shall be Liable TO indictment by the
Grand jury and upon conviction shall he fined
not more than one hundred nor less than twenty.
i've dollars. with costs and # the same cannot be
recovered from the said Supervisor his bond shall
be liable Tor the payment thereof the line 10 be
paid into the County Treasury to the credit OF the
road and bridge account: and the County Com
miSsOnerS, upon the complaint To them in writing
of any responsible citizen and taxpayer OF the
county, or upon the report of any Road Commits
sioner or County Commissioner, that any Super.
visor is derelict in his duty, shal. a sum.
mons directed to the Sheriff of the county to be
issued hy their Clerk commanding said Superyi.
sOr to appear before them on day named by them
to answer said complaints or report, and if he
shall fail to make satisfactory answer or shall re-
fuse to appear, the Commissioners shall at once
declare INN removed from office and shall direct
the Road Commissioners in charge OF the road
district there said Supervisor resides to take
charge OF his road and repair the same during the
remainder OF the term ci said Supervisor and the
bond of said Supervisor shall he liable .Ur all costs
OF said repairs IN excess OF amount Of contract
shall be sued ON by the County Commissioners e
recover said costs II the suretles shall refuse t.
pay the same; but il the suretles desire TO have
OF their number a resident OF the road district
in which the said road is located, or some other
reliable person residing in said district. to tax
charge OF the road. he may be appointed by the
County Commi- sioaeTS to succeed said Supervisor
but stall he required 10 execute a new contract
and bJn! Tor the re"li inder OF the term the same
rule shall apply in casts of death removal from
the comfy OF any Supervisor: and i'll the hearing
u il cumplaint or report against Il Supervisor the
County Commissioners shall allow ample time
Tor the appearance OF the accused AMI shall sum
mon before them any witnesses that he may ask
80 he heard III his behalf, and also any witnesses
that my bc necessary TO sustain the complaint
or report: and the bonds of the Supervisors shall
b. Liable Tor the damages sustained by any one
in person or property. i'll consequence of the neg
lect OF duty upon the part OF SAID Supervisors
SEC. 6. Aaabc il cnactcd, That the Road Com,
missionerS shall have immediate charge OF all
bridges. Sluiccs and trunks in their respective
road districts. and shall keep the same at all
times in safe and substantial condition. and shall
make all necessary repairs or improvements
thereto not exceeding in cost more than fifteen
dollars in any one case. unless ordered by the
County Commissioners to eNpend Il larger sum in
said repairs OF improvements: and il stall be the
duty OF said Road Commissioners. prior to the
second Tuesday al every month, To inspect the
roads and bridges in their Sectyc road districts
and report in writing the condition OF the samt TO
the County Commissioners at their regular meet
ing in said month. with any recommendations
that they may desire to make and with Il state
mcnt OF ;he coS:S ui repairs or improvements
made by them up to that time, attaching to said
statement an affidavit in the usual form; and they
shall also AT the same time, report to the County
Commissioners the name OF any Supervisor who
may have tailed to perform his duties as defined
in this Act; and the Road Commissioner in each
election district with the County Commis Sioner