The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-08-02
The New Roao Law.

The road law passed by the last Legislature
and signed BY Governor Paitison is regarded
as practical measure, one, it is thought,
which will result in a reform in the matter
of road making. in some Of the districts ct
least, throughout Jhe country By this act
the taxpayers OF any township or road dis
trict are enabled 10 contract for making the
roads at their own expense and paying sala-
ries Of township or road district officers and
thereby prevent the levy and collection of a
road tax in such township or road district
The process by which this right is to be
acquired is as follows: Any one or more tax
payers desi1Ons of acquiring the said right
shall. before the beginning of any township
fiscsi.year, present 10 the court of quarter
sessions Of the county in which said right is
desired, setting out that he. she, it or they
are the owners Of property assessed for road
purposes in said township, or rosd district,
the number Of miles of public road in said
township or road district and the desire and
ability of the petitioner or petitioners TO lay
out, open, make amend and repair the pub
lie highways and bridges of said township or
road district wholly at his, her. its, or their
own expense for the ensuing township fiscal
year, ard to pay the other expenses Of said
township without any right against or claim
upon said township or road district for or by
reason Of the materials, labor or money fur
nished.
The work is to be done under the direction
Of the supervisor, who is required to view
and inspect the making and repairing of the
roads in his district at least once every
month and be fully satisfied that the peti-
TONERS have fully complied with their con-
tract, and for this service the supervisors
shall each receive The sum of $50 per year.
It likewise win be the duty Of the super
visor to notify the contractors. fiat any time
be sees the roads need repair, and if they
fail to repair the road as required, he is en-
powered to purchase such materials and en-
ploy such men as may be necessary TO re-
pair said roads and charge the same TO the
contractors.
In addition to the salary provided for to
be paid to the supervisors for supervising
the work the petitioners or contractors will
be required 10 pay TO the township clerk so;
TO each Of the township auditors S25; 10 the
township attorney $50 and TO each supergis-
or $50. They viii also be required to exc
cute bond in a sum equal to 500 for each
and every mile Of public road in said town
ship, with sureties conditioned for the faith
fri Performance Of their trust.
The practical effect Of the bill will be felt
more particularly in the townships in which
the greater amount of the taxable property
is held by one or more persons or corpora
tons and subsequently pay the most of the
tax assessed, which in too many instances
goes 10 other purposes than that of the re-
pair Of the streets. It is believed that the
viii willingly embrace the OPP
ponunity Of freeing themselves from the
heavy road tax generally levied, by under
taking to keep the streets in proper repair,
and it Will be the mission of the supervisor
to sec that it IS done properly.