The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-07-17
For the Democratic Advocate.
Westminster and the Turnpike.

MEssRs. EDITORS IF the turnpike that
extends through our city were kept in the
condition required by the compauy's charter,
there would be no necessity for the city to
macadamize the street through which it runs,
as will be seen by the following extracts from
the Companys charter, granted by the Act of
Assembly of 1904, chap. 81:
Sec. II. That the said presidents, mana
gers and companies shall cause
twenty feet thereof in breadth at least to be
made an artificial road, which shall be bedded
with wood, stone or gravel, or any other hard
substance, well compacted together, sutfi-
cient depth to secure solid foundation to the
same; and said road shall be faced with gravel
or stone pounded, or other small hard sub
stance, in such manner as to secure firm,
and, as near as the materials will reasonably
admit, an even surface, and shall
forever hereafter, during the continuance of
said incorporation or interpretations, mair-
tain and keep the same in good and perfect
order and repair.
SEC. 26.-And be it enacted That if the
said companies, after any of the said roads
are completed as aforesaid, shall neglect to
keep the said roads in good and perfect order
for the space of fifteen days, and information
shall be given to any justice of the peace OF
the neighborhood, within the county where
the repair ought to be made, such justice shall
issue a precept, to be directed to any con-
stable, commanding him to summon three
disinterested persons, to be named by the said
Justice in the said precept, to meet at certain
time in the said precept to be mentioned, at
the place in the said road which shall be CON-
planned Of of which meeting notice shall be
given to the keeper of the gate or turnpike
nearest thereto, and the said justice shall, at
such time and place, on the oaths or affirma-
lions of the said persons, inquire whether the
said road, or any part thereof, is in such good
and perfect order and repair as aforesaid, and
shall cause an inquisition to be made and GER
tilted under the hands of himself and major.
ity of the said persons; and if the road shall
be found by the said inquisition to be out of
order and repair, contrary to the true intent
and meaning of this act, the said justice shall
certify and send one copy of the said inquisi-
ton to each of the keepers of the turnpikes
or gates between which such defective place
shall be, and from thenceforth the tolls hereby
granted to be collected at such turnpikes or
gates shall cease to be demanded, paid or
collected, until the said defective part or parts
shall be put in good and perfect order and
repair as aforesaid; and if the same shall not
be put in good and perfect order and repair
before the next county court of the said coun-
ty, the aforesaid justice shall certify and send
copy of the inquisition aforesaid to the
judges of the county court, who shall there
upon cause to be brought before them the
body or bodies of the person or persons in
trusted by the company with the care and
superintendent of such part of the said road
as shall be found defective, and if the said
person or. persons intrusted by the company
or companies aforesaid shall be convicted of
the offence by the said inquisition charged,
the said court shall fine the said person or
persons, according to the nature and aggrava
ton of the neglect, in their discretion, not
exceeding one hundred dollars, for every week
such place shall have been out of order and
repair; and in case the said company should
neglect to have the said place repaired within
fifteen days after the aforesaid fine shall have
been laid, then the said court shall proceed
to fine the said president, managers and com
pany, in their discretion, not exceeding two
hundred dollars, for the use of the county
under the direction Of the levy court.
From the above extracts it will readily be
seen that any person can compel the Company
to keep the turnpike in the condition required
by its charter, and that it is not in that con-
dition now is patent to the most casual OBJ
server, not to speak of those who ride upon it.
BoNUM PUBLIcUM.