The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-17
HIGHWAYS FOR TRAVEL.
COMMISSIONER BOURQUIN SAYS
THEY ARE MOTT FOR RAILROADS.

/
missioner Bourquin Does Not think
1t Very Good Enactment.
Chairman Gugie Bourquin Of the Chat
ham County Road Commission has pro-
nounced very strongly against the granting
| of the roadways of the county for the use
Of railway corporations Of any character.
At the last meeting of the board of
| county commissioners a communication
| was received from MIR. Bourquin announc-
ing that the road commissioners would op-
pose the use of the Augusta and Louisville
roads by the West End and Suburban rail-
way. which was recently granted the right
of way upon those roads.
The letter was as follows:
Col. Robert D. Walker Chairman:
DEAR SIR-The attention of the board Of road
commissioners having been called to the action
of your board in granting right of way 10 a rail-
way line to be operated the Augusta and
Louisville roads, we now put you on notice
that We object to said proceedings, that these
two roads are barely sufficient in width for
public USE that railway would contract the
roads fully one-half, that it would become a
public nuisance, - and that as long as the road
commission exists we will never allow this iu-
reference with the rights OF the travelling pub
lie By order Of the executive committee.
G. BouRQU1N. Chairman.
Mr.. Bourquin said to MORNING NEWS
AcpOfOcE yesterday btldb Juo TOduS arc hardly
wide enough now for the travel upon them,
and IL their width is contracted by a rail-
way track they will become entirely too
small for the traffic upon them.
LET the railroad grade its own track out
as far as it wants to CO." he said, land not
encroach upon the public roadway. They
simply want to get the use OF a roadbed
already graded"
THE NEW ROAD LAW.
NJ 10 vorr1 ~, roh d{cc,v,e4oJ ,rsAl,
the road legislation of the legislature, which
has just adjourned. Instead of enacting
the law proposed by Mr.. Bourquin, which
| repealed the greater part of the present
dead letter road laws of Georgia and pro-
| vided much simpler and more effective
set of laws, the legislature re-enacted most
| OF the old laws and added in new provisions
| which MIR. Bourquin does not consider adds
anything to the effectiveness of the laws,
| which are extremely unsatisfactory.
The bill as passed is entitled IAN act TO
| amend and revise the road laws of the state,
so as to prescribe who shall be subject to
work on the same; to authorize the levy of
an ad valorem tax and Communication tax:
to provide for the election of superin-
tendent, etc"
PROVISIONS OF THE LAW.
Section l provides that whenever any
| county shall adopt this act all male persons
between the ages of IS and so years shall be
subject DO road duty, except persons physi-
cally unable to perform manual labor, and
| ministers OF the gospel in good standing
who may have charge of one OF more
| churches.
Section 2 provides that the superin-
tendent of roads and bridges shall
submit to the grand jury at
the fall term of the superior court
an estimate Of the number of days work
necessary upon the public roads for the en-
4 wi 70 I'd IF tha ban nd
in the county. when the grand jury snail
determine how many days work are neces-
| sary to keep the roads and bridges of the
county in good condition and the number
of days required of the road hands, and the
Communication tax ia lieu thereof and the ad
valorem tax to be- levied upon the property
Of the county. The ordinary of the county
or the county commissioners shall assess
and levy the work and the ad valorem tax
as recommended.
| NOT OVER TEN DAYS IN 4 YEAR.
In no instance shall the number of days
work required exceed ten days in a year,
nor the ad valorem tax exceed one-fourth
of | per cent, except in cases of emergency
for the building or rebuilding of bridges or
the removal of distractions
Section provides for the appointment of
superintendent OF public roads aud
bridges by the ordinary or county commits
sioners of each county, who shall prescribe
|
salary.
Section provides that whenever as many
as 100 voters of a county shall petit
ton the ordinary of the county for the
benefit of the provisions of this act the ordi-
nary shall give thirty days notioe
of the same through the newspapers and if
no counter petition is filed at the expiration
Of the thirty days notice, shall order an
election held upon the question.
COUNTER PETITION PROVIDED FOR.
If q counter petition of 200 qualified
voters is presented before the expiration of
the thirty days notice, the ordinary will
not order the election, but will give notice
of the fact through the newspapers. If
within thirty days more an additional
ton signed by not less than
300 voters is presentedithe ordinary shall
order the election and give thirty days no.
tice thereof. II q majority of the votes
cast at the election are in favor of the law
the act will become of force in that county
At the end of five years, il the law is un.
satisfactory, another election may be held
in the same manner as prescribed for the
first
Section 6 gives the superintendent Of
roads exclusive jurisdiction in establishing,
altering, repairing or abolishing all roads
in conformity to the law, and shall have
the same authority in all matters pertain
= ing to the roads as Is now vested in the
q ordinary or county commissioners OF each
, county and shall decide ali quest ions at
issue in regard TO the roads and shall have
the power to fix fines and forfeitures OF de-
. faulters.
s Section provides for the enforcement Of
z Of road duty.
CoNvICTS TO WORK THE ROADS.
Section provides that all miSdemeanor
convicts and all other convicts of two years.
sentence or under shall be- used in working
the public roads II any county is unwill-
ing to use its convicts in road service it may
let them to any other county for this
> work.
= Section provides that all public roads in
this state, shall have not less than fifteen
4 nor more than thirty feet good wagon-way,
] drawn up in the middle in oval shape as far
as practicable, and that as soon as the
superintendent Of a county may think the
read fund sufficient he may begin the work
!; of grading the hills, TO be carried on from
II year t. year as the funds will permit. The
oval shape is not required on fat, sandy
lands that do not wash or mire.
= Section 10 provides for the erection of
mile posts on all roads aud the placiag of
, sign boards at cross roads The mile posts
are to be Of stone when pract cable.
d., Section II provides for the appointment
Of deputy superntendents for each road
district aud the distribution of the road
work.
The bill may be some improv ement upon