The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-18
NORTH CAROLINA ROAD LAW.

The general question Of the improvement
of our public roads is attracting 80 much at
tention at this time that the laws of some of
the other States bearing on the subject will
not be uninteresting. as probably throwing
some light on the true solution of what has
been found, in this State at least. to be a very
difficult problem. The conditions prevailing
in North Carolina are very similar TO those
TO be observed in Virginia. The people Of
that State have suffered just as much rs the
people of this Commonwealth from the evils
Of grossly defective system of keeping up
the public highways; but an examination Of
the law relating to this question which has
been adopted in North Carolina, shows that
they have recently taken much more active
steps than our own citizens to provide an eff
cient and a permanent remedy.
An act of the Legislature WAS passed in 1887
providing for what is known as the "alterna-
tive method of constructing and keeping in
repair the public roads of the State, " the most
important clauses of which are as follows:
First. the adoption of this method is left TO
the discretion of the board of commissioners
and the board of justices of the plan of any
county in the State
Secondly. the board of commissioners and
justices may provide for q fund for the con-
struction and keeping in repair the public
roads by levying an assessment, by way Of al
valorem tax. not exceeding fifteen cents on the
hundred dollars valuation upon all property
in such county subject TO taxation for State
l., - Il
erty belong to citizens Of incorpor-
ated towns or otherwise; and the
board of commissioners and board
Of justices of the peace shall also levy. in case
the property tax be levied. poll tax upon
all persons not exempted as provided by law.
not exceeding forty-five cents, which taxes
shall be included in a separate column on the
tax books, and shall be collected by the sheriff
or other tax collector in such county as other
taxes are collected. and which taxes shall be
kept separate. and shall constitute, when col
lected, the county road fund. to be expended
only in the construction and repair of the pub
lie roads of such county.
Thirdly, the board of commissioners and
the board of justices of the peace of any coun-
ty adopting the provisions of this act. at any
of their meetings. shall provide for calling on
all able bodied male persons of respective
county between the ages Of twenty-one and
forty-fve to work the roads not exceeding
four days in each and every year. under such
rules and regulations as may be prescribed by
the board Of commissioners of such county"
Any person refusing 10 work on the public
roads Is guilty of misdemeanor, and if con-
victed Is fined not exceeding $50 or i'm
pris0ned not exceeding thirty days. Any
person, however, may pay the road tax in
labor at the discretion Of the commissioners
One of the most important provisions Of
the law is that all persons confined in the
county jail either under a final sentence of
the court for crime or Imprisonment for the
non.payment Of fines or costs, or under final
judgment i'll cases of bastardy. or under the
yagrant acts and all persons sentenced to the
State prison for term less than five years,
shall be available TO the county commission
ers. at the discretion of the commissioners.
for the purpose Of working persons upon the
public roads under the provisions of the act"
Section fifth provides that the board Of
directors of the penitentiary shall furnish the
board Of commissioners of any county, upon
the requistion OF the commissioners, not less
than twenty nor more than fifty convicts 10
work upon the public roads of such county.
The convicts shall be at all times under the
supervision and control, q TO their govern.
msA and diciphns. OF the panitsntiau a.