Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-01-24
FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENT
A BILL. THAT HAS THx0 END
Ir< VIEW.

Capt att AtkAm0Om Prepares a
Bill That Provides for the Ret
terment of Public Hi&hSvays bv
the Use of Convict Labor.
Capt. Matt Atkinson of this city has
prepared the following bill relating to
road matters in the State, and will for
ward it to the Legislature for that bodv's
action:
An Act to provide for the improvement
of the public roads of the State by the
use of convict labor, and for other
purposes.
The General Assembly Of North Carolina
do enact:
SECTION 1. That the State shall be
divided into nine Road districts. said
districts to be constituted as follows
towit: 1. The first of the counties COM
posing the First Congressional district;
2. The second of the counties compost, g
the Second Congressional district; 8. The
third of the counties composing the Third
Congressional district; 4. The fourth of
the counties composing the Fourth Con-
gressional district; 5. The fifth Of the
counties composing the Fifth Congress
sional district; 6. The sixth of the coun-
ties composing the Sixth Congressional
district; Z. The seventh of the counties
composing the Seventh Congressional
district; 8. The eighth of the counties
trict, and the ninth of the counties COM
posing the Ninth Congressional district.
SECTION 2. That the several classes OF
convicts mentioned and Speclhed IN sec
ton one of chapters 335 of the public Ia VS.
of 1887, as liable to work upon the public
roads, shall be liable to work on the pub
lie roads under the provisions of this act.
and in addition to such classes OF con-
yicts the board Of directors of the peni-
teutiary is authorized and directed to
| furnish the authorities OF the said several
road districts all convicts, now serving
terms OF imprisonment in the pen1ten-
tiary, whose sentences do not exceed
the term of ten wears.
SECTION 8. That it shall be the duty
of the officers charged with the exccu-
ton of the pro visions of this act to sup
DIV an equal number of convicts liable to
work under the first section of this act,
to each of said nine road districts
SECTION 4. The board of directors Of
the penitentiary shall appoint com
petent superintendent of convicts for
each of said road districts whose duties
shall be prescribed by said board o.
directors of the penitentiary; and any
superiutendent SO appointed who shall
tail to perform any OF the duties so pre-
scribed shall be guilty of misde
meanor, and on conviction may be hnec
and imprisoned in the discretion of the
court, and shall, moreover, be subject
to removal by said board of directors.
SECTION S. That the work which
shall be done under this chapter upo,
the public roads of said several district
shall be done in each county OF each Q
3 said districts in proportion to the amour
of the State tax which said county shal
paw during the period of two years.
SECTION 6. That the boards Of count
= commissioners shall have power t.
designate the public roads o be worke'
by convicts under this chapter, and th
exercise of their discretion in this respec
= shall not be interfered with by an
other authority, except that OF the legis
lature.
SECTION =. That it shall be lawful 70
anv county to levy tax upon the ta1
able property in said county, of not les
than nor more than - on the on
hundred dollars worth of said propert
for the purpose OF aiding in the improve
ment of said roads, ard the board {
commissioners is hereby empowered
further aid in said Improvement by r.
quiring all persons now subject to wor
on the public roads to work double tt
number of days per annum now require
by law.
SECTION 8. That the board of con
nissioners of the several counties sha
require the overseer or superintendent
road sections to repair and keep in
good condition any roads improve
under the provisions of this act, ar
NAV prescribe when, how, and by VIII;
hands said overseer shall perform sa
duty.
SECTION .. When and where port
BILE stockades and tents are deemed
sufficient for the proper care and sa
keeping of the convicts, the county
counties needing the same shall furni
all necessary cheap material for the co
struction of said stockades.
neer may be employed by the coun
commissioners to direct the prop
grading and construction of the wor
and two or more counties may co-ol
ate in the employment OF said eng1ne
also in the purchase of improved imp
ments for working said roads, all too
. and implements other wise to be furnish
by the State.
SECTION IL. AL laws or parts of la
. in conflict with this act are hereby
pealed.
SECTION II. This act shall take eff
III from and after it's ratification.
ii "There being now $S5,ooo in
State treasury" Capt. Atkinson sa
land it being understood that the I
on purchases of whiskey will be
stored by the Legislature, thereby &
ing us $50, 900 more annually, the abb
bill can be carried out without addit
to our present State assessment"
CHAPTER on WEATHER.