Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-01-15

ter one for our State"
Hon. William Bundy On the Road
Question.
Repeal the law requiring the perform
ance of two days labor in each year. on
the public highways; also the Law author.
izing the discharge in labor of taxes
levied for road purposes; and provide
the means for opening and repairing the
roads by u direct tax levied upon all the
taxable property. Repeal the law pro
viding for the election, and defining the
duties of supervisors of public highways
as well as superintendents and directors
of free turnpike roads. Constitute the
territory in each township outside the
limits of any city or incorporated village,
district for road purposes. Elect in
each district three suitable persons, to be
designated as commissioners of public
highways, with corporate power. and to
have the entire management of all roads
other than toll roads, in their proper dis
tricts. Said commissioners to be elected
on the first Monday in April in each year,
by the qualified electors of the several
districts,- and in the following manner
One for one year, one for two years, and
one for three years. aud one for three
years annually thereafter. They should
be required to take the usual oath Of Of
fee, and enter into bonds severally to
the State of Ohio. in sufficient sums with
sureties to the satisfaction and accept
sncs of the trustees of the township
Said bonds to be Gled with the township
clerk. and become matter of record in
in his Office.
The commissioners should. at their
first meeting after election and quali6ca-
ton. select one of their number as chair
man, whose duty it should be to preside
vt their several meetings and direct the
business of the same; the township
clerk should act as clerk Of the board,
and keep correct record of their trans
actions in book kept for that purpose.
Said board should meet at least four
times in each year, and as much Oftner
as their business might require. 1t should
be the duty of Lhe commissioners to de-
termine the per centum to be levied in
each year for road purposes, and certify
the same in writing to the auditor of the
county, on or before the 18th day of May
in each year. who should cause the same
to be assessed on all the taxable property
of the proper district, to be collected by
the county treasurer with the December
instsllment of taxes, and paid over to the
treasurer of the township from which it
WAS collected, to be by him kept for the
use of the roads. and paid out only on
warrants signed BY the proper parties.
1t should be the duty of the commits
sioners to make, or cause to be made. a
map or profile of the several roads in
their respective districts, and divide the
same in sections of miles aHd half miles
for convenient letting. and to sell out
all work to the lowest responsible bidder.
taking sealed proposals for the same.
or by public outcry as to them might
seem best, except in matters of small
jobs of work or furnishing materials in
small quantities, when in their opinion
the public can be as we'll served by pri+
vate contract.
ALI contractors who undertake work,
or the furnishing of materials, to the
amount of $50 or over, should enter in
to bonds in sufficient sums, with sure
ties to the satisfaction of the commits
sioners. conditioned for the faithful per-
formance of their duties, according to
specifications made The commissioners
should have an oversight of the con
tractors, and prosecute them on their
bonds for neglect of duty; they should
provide for the destruction of the bush>
es, briars and nOxious weeds growing
along or upon the highways, as well as
to keep mp proper guide>boards where
needed, and provide suitable watering
places. They should also make and i'm
pose rules in regard to width of tire
used and burdens transported over all
free turnpike roads. They should have
power when, in their opinion, the public
good required it, to employ competent
surveyor Or engineer to determine grade.
estimate work, and make out specitica-
tions for contracting. Power should be
granted the commissioners similar to
that nov enjoyed. by supervisors of pdb-
lie highways AS to entering upon lands
adjoining for the purpose of open
ing and maintaining bitches for the
proper drainage Of the roads; also as to
procuring timber and other material for
necessary repair of the same. Vixen
work has been done or material fur
nished to the satisfaction of the commits
sieners. they, or any two of them, shall
certify the amount to the clerk OF the
township. who shall draw his order on
the township treasurer foI the same, in
favor Of the holder. i