The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-01-26
AN IMPORTANT BILL.


vfsors and Providing for tho Improve
nnent of Country Roads.
Following is the full text of Mr.. Tryon's
bill now before tho Ohio Legislature, de-
signed for the Improvement Of country
roads:
A BfLL-To create township supervisors in
certain counties, and require tho letting OF
certain portions OF roadRwork by contract.
SEC I. Be IL enacted by the General Assem-.
bly, OF the State OF Ohio, That in each township
in the following counties, namely: Adams,
Ashtabuia, Auglaize Belmont Brown, Clarke,
Cuyahogn, Darte, Defiance, Delaware, Fair
field, Foyette Fulton, Gallia, Geauga, Guern.
sey, Hancock. Harrison Hooking. Huron, Jack.
son. Jefferson. Lake Logan, Lorain, Lucas,
Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Monroe, Morgan,
Morrow, Muslsingum, Noble, ottawa, Pauld-
ns per potng GHS
and Wyandot, there shall be appointed by the
township trustees, within ten days after the
first Monday in April, A. d. 1889. and annually
thereafter, Quo supervisor, who shall hold his
ofice for one year and until his successor is ap-
pointed and qunlibed; and each township, ex.
elusive Of such part us mny be under control Of
u corporation, shall continue rond dis,rict
provided that in townships having two or more
voting precincts, there shall be appointed one
supervisor for each precinct, and each voting
precinct shall constitute O road district.
SEC. = Each supervisor, within five days
alter his appointment, shall take an oath or
affirmation TO faithfully, honestly and impair
shall enter into bonds, payable to the State OF
Ohio, in trust for the township. in the penal
sum OF not less than five hundred dollars, with
surety to be approved by the township trustees.
conditioned to fulfill the requirements OF said
oath, OK affirmation. said bonds to be recorded
by the township clerk, and when forfeited in
whole or in part, to be collected with the costs,
by the trustees in civil action. and moneys SO
collected shall go into the road fund of the
township, to be expended rs other road moneys.
SEC, B. II the supervisor of any road district
shall by wiful neglect OF duty or mnlfeasnnce
in ONCE, forfeit his bond or any part thereof
shall prove incompetent to properly fulfill the
duties of the oflcc, he may be removed by the
township trustees, and 1t shall be the duty OF
the trustees, on proof of such neglect malfeas-
ance or incompetence in suit brought before
aiustce OF the peace of the township, to de
clare the office vacant; or in case of vacancy in
the office by any cause. the trustees In the dis
trict where such vacancy occurs, shall appoint
suitable person to fill the same for the unex.
pired term. and the person so appointed shall.
before entering upon his duties, take an oath or
anrmatfon, give bonds and be under the same
restrictions and penalties provided for in this
act
SEC. 4. Tho duties Of supervisor shall be as
,,, ioi,Sws: TO open or to cause to be opened al
out and established in HIS district and to main
tain the proper legal width and location OF the
make, from time to time, such permanent i'm.
provemen.s by grading, draining, graveling or
merchandising as the tax for road purposes
VIII warrant; to remove cause to be
moved forthwith, all distractions that may
be found thereon to complete the work Of
grading and ordinary repairs between the
hrst day OF April and twentieth day OF
June OF each year, and to complete within a
reasonable time after having been commenced.
all repairs and improvements in smooth and
workmanlike manner, and in good condition for
all kinds OF public travel, and to grade, or cause
TO be graded and leveled of, the earth and
gravel that may be scraped, shoveled or hauled
into any public road under his direction or
charge at the time such work is performed and
within the months OF July and August Of each
year, to cut down or cause to be cut down and
destroyed. all weeds, burs, bushes and briars
growing in the public highways within his iuris-
diction. But no supervisor shall cut down or
molest any OF che shade trees growing upon the
highways, unless so ordered by the township
trustees.
SEC. 5. Supervisors shall cause to be erected
and kept IN repair at the principal forks and
leading to some village. depot, or other i'm.
portant place, post and guide board,
containing legible inscription directing the
way and naming the distance to the village or
public place or places situate on each Of such
roads, and shall provide and maintain, where
feasible and desirable, suitable watering troughs
and places for procuring water for persons and
animals on the public highways; and shall re-
move or cause to be removed, timber or drift
lodged against bridges. or abutments of the
structure, but IL shall not apply to toll bridges
or bridges upon toll roads.
SEC. Supervisors shall order out or cause
to be ordered out, annually, between the first
day OF April and the first day of July, every
person liable to perform the two days labor, or
charged with road tax In his district. TO do and
perform the labor SO charged upon the public |
highways, but no person shall be required to
perform such labor at distance OF more than
one and one-half miles from his place of resi-
of any person who has family shalt be held to
be whore his family resides, and the residence |
of any other person shall be held to be where |
he boards.
SEC z. Supervisors shall let by contract |
under written specifications such portions OF the |
public roads for ordinary repairs or'for grading, |
the trustees shall direct; and the work of ordin,
ary repairs shall be done between the first day |
OF April and the twentieth day OF June of each |
year, except scraping the roads, which may be |
done at any time when 1t shall be deemed nee.
essary by the supervisor or trustees, but before |
letting any contract for grading, undertaking,
or macadamizing, any one job OF |
which will. In his judgment exceed in cost the |
sum OF fifty dollars, he shall make careful csti-
mate OF the cost, TO be approved by Mt least
two of the township trustees; and II necessary
for this purpose, he may employ competent |
engineer, and shall advertise the letting OF the |
work at least twenty days, specifying the
width, heighth, and pitch OF grade, depth and |
width OF gravel or stone to be applied. and |
other necessary particulars and specifications,
and a. let the same to the lowest responsible
sum fixed by them. payable to the State,
with good sureties for the performance OF the
oordancc with full written specifications, a copy
OF which bond and specifications shall be filed |
with the township clerk, but no bid shall be
accepted which exceeds the estimated cost, and
the supervisor may reject any or all bids, and
II may be condition OF the contract that per.
sons owing the two days labor, and whose
names are specified therein, may work out the
same under the direction Of the contractor, such
work TO be received and accounted for as part L
In payment OF the contract price. And IL also
shall be a condition OF the contract that persons
who pay road tax or assessment OF property
and who may live within one and one-half miles
OF where the work is to be performed. shall
have preference In the employment OF labor to
complete the contract. But all such contracts
may be submitted TO the township trustees and
approved by them.
SEC. g. Supervisors shall expend the money
collected by them In lieu OF the two days labor
for the benefit OF the roads In their respective
and shall keep an itemized account In
q book OF record, to be furnished by the trustees
moneys received and paid out by them, and
shall report to the trustees of their townships
at the annual settlement on the first Monday in
March detailed statement OF their oficial trans
actions. including the amount OF labor and by
whom performed, when and where expended
time and date OF their own service. and they
shall return q full and true list OF the names OF
all persons within their respective districts who
have been ordered out to perform the two days
labor, md of those who have refused or neg
lected to perform the snme; and all fines and
provisions OF this chapter shall be paid by the
Justice. OF the peace or constable collect.
ng the same, into the township road
'und and supervisors shall also render an
Of ali moneys that remain in their
hands at the time OF settlement, and niI judg-
nents that remain unpaid. with the names ofthe
Judgment debtors and the Justice before whom
II each, and the trustees shall mako such order
Is TO the prosecution Of suits by the supervisor
sgainst such delinquonts as In the Judgment OF
he trustees the interests OF the township