Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-23
THE LAWS ON ROADS.
Just 857 Separate Enactments
in this State About
Highways.
A LACK OF UNIFORMITY,
Which Furnishes a Powerful Ex-
cuse for the Bad Roads.
THE STATE COMMISSIONS BOOK.
Curious Features of Legislative Acts on
One Subject.
A LACK OF UNIFORMITY,
THE STATE COMMISSIONS BOOK.
SOME CULLINGS AS FAIR SAMPLES

sdelphia, to prepare a digest of all the gen.
eral laws of Pennsylvania relating to roads,
highways and bridges, together with an In
dex to the special county and township road
laws. Mr.. Ettla's compilation has just
been printed in pamphlet form, several
copies Of which have been received by the
Allegheny county members of the commits
sion.
A person looking through this pamphlet
will be apt to lay it down with the remark:
.''No wonder the country roads OF Pennsyi-
yauia are in such bad condition" Secre-
tary Ettla's labors show what lack of sys-
tenn there is about the repairing OF our
roads, There is no uniformity in road laws.
OVER 800 DIFFERENT LAWS
The compiler of the work makes digest
of 157 general road laws, and adds most
complete index by counties of exactly ZOO
specisl road laws for counties and town
ships. That makes S57 different laws In
this State governing the repair and malnte-
nance of the public highways. 1t is because
OF this great number, and the difference In
the plans laid down in them, that the de-
mand has srisen for one general road law TO
govern the whole State.
The pamphlet fills 130 pages, so that 1t is
not possible to put into the space OF a news
paper column all that the laws collated
therein set forth. They present every phase
of the present mismsnagement of roadways.
In some counties the township laws
passed in the days OF special
legislation are contradictory. Many OF
them passed so many years ago are now like
q mis6t suit of clothes. They were made
for day and age when the population was
small or when there was less money than
now, Since then population and means have
both increased, but these antiquated laws
are still in force.
ALLEGHENY CoUNTY's LAW.
Allegheny county's rural highways are
governed by SO separate special acts, be-
side the general road laws. They are as
follows:
That hereafter the number Of road and bridge
viewers appointed by the Court OF Quarter
Sessions, shall be three, one Of whom shall be a
surveyor. IL deemed necessary.-Fepruars'
1876.
Increasing the compensation of surveyors
and road viewers.-March, 1856
Relative to the construction of roads during
the tendency Of an appeal.-April. 1859.
Authorizing the Court of Quarter Sessions TO
yacate certain streets, lanes and alleys,-May
ISL
To increase the pay of road viewers and sur
vevors-March. 1872
Relative to streets in the city Of Allegheny
May ISL
Relating to the election of a supervisor in
Collins township, March, 1851.
Authorizing the road supervisors of the
township of Collins to make sidewalks along
the public roads and relating to the pay of su-
pervisors in said township, April, 1867.
FooTwALKs PROVIDED FOR.
Providing for the construction and mainte-
nance of footwalks in CHARTERS. Scott, Union
and Robinson townships, April, 1859
To elect one additional supervisor in Eliza
beth township, February, 1851.
The election of additional supervisors in
Elizabeth township, March, 1865.
Dividing Indiana township into four road dis
tricts and relating to the election Of four su.
perv1sors and defining their duties, March ,lS52
To authorize the election of four supervisors
in Indiana township. February, 1855
Extending the Penn township road law
passed March, 1862 to Indiana and Wilkini
townships.-April, ISL
Authorizing the citizens of KiIlbuck town
ship to change the method Of making and re
pairing the roads and bridges; relating to rh'
election of supervisors and defining their dutie
and compensation.-March, 1870
Election of supervisors in KiIlbuck township
and defining their duties.-April, 1873.
Election of Supervisors in Lower 81. Clai
township-March, 1872
To increase the pay CT supervisors in Lncoll
township.-April, 1873
TAKING AN EASTERN EXAMPLE.
That the provisions OF an act entitled "A
act in relation to the construction of roads an
bridges in Lower Merton township, Montgon
cry county," approved March 2 lS6
be extended to the township Of Leet Marcl
1870
Authorizing the election of two additions
supervisors in Mifiin township, April, 1856.
Relative to election of supervisors in Moo
township. March. 1857.
That the provisions of an act authorizing th
citizens of Killbuck township. to change th
method of making and repairing roads an
bridges in SAID township. approved March 2
1870 be extended to the township of Moon, wit
the exception of provision which imposes
penalty of sS for hauling logs over the roau
shall not form part of this act, May, 1871.
Authorizing the construction of foot wall
in Oakland township and relating to the penal'
for obstructing or destroying the same. Apr
1857.
Viewers to assess damages occasioned by q
opening of streets and alleys in the city
Pittsburg. March, 1S47.
Relating to roads in Pine township, and
hning the duties of Auditors and Supervise
of said township. April 1853
SEVERAL TOWNSHIPS INCLUDED.
Proving for the expenses Of roads in Reser'
township, in the county of Allegheny. Marc
ls4S.
Providing for the expenses of roads in r
serve township, compensation of Supervise
and defining their duties. March, 1858.
Authorizing the Auditors of Reserve tow
ship to erect board foot walks along the roa
in said township and to levy a tax to defray u
expenses Of the same. March, 1870.
Election of Supervisors and their dutis
Road taxes in Scott township. March, 1863
Relating TO rUads and supervisors In Soc
and Lower st. Clair townships and defining &
duties Of said supervisors. March, 1862
Authorizing the election of additional supt
visors in South Fayette township, and relati
to road taxes. March, 1867
Election of supervisors and defining tn,
duties in Upper St Clair township. Februsl
Is72