The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-06-10
THE NEW ROAD LAW.
An ACT to create the once Of Road Commits
sioner and for the better ami more effective
working of the public roads.

laturc OF the state Of Mississippi, That
the boards OF supervisors of tho various
counties of the State OF Mississippi shall,
q. tho regular May term. after the pass
ago OF this act, classify the public roads
in their respective counties as roads OF
the first and second class. Tho main
thoroughfares leading to the principal
markets to be roads Of the hrst class,
all other public roads as roads OF the
second class, and they shall appoint a
suitable and competent person 10 be
known as road commissioner, and TO fix
his compensation al a sum not toexceed
duties shall DO as herein provided.
Sec. =, The road commissioner shall
have special supervision and manage
ment of all public roads in tho county
and shall mako plans and specifications
OF all bridges and ,upcrintepd tho croc-
ton Of tho same. lie shall Immediately
after his appointment, examine the list
Of hands assigned TO all tho oyorseors
in his county and the links OF road they
ara required to work and see that all
lahorers subject to road duty arc listed,
and report to tho next term OF tho super
yisors' court such changes or rc-listing
OF hands as he may deem Just and cQuit-
*hlo in view OF the work to be done on
their links OF road lIe shall examine
and report the quantity and character
of tools in possession OF the road hands
available Tor effective work on the roads
and make requisition upon the boards
OF supervisors FOR such additional tools,
road scrapers, plows or grading machines
as he may deem necessary TO tho most
economical and effective working OF the
public roads, and to supply the over.
seers with such additional tools AZ may
be necessary. taking their receipt for
tho same, but thoy shall be subject at
all times to tho order OF the road com.
m missioner.
Sec. 3. All the o%vcrsocrs, with tho
labor assigned them, shall be under the
direction and supervision OF tho road
commissioner, and shall work their re-
specttvo links OF road at such time and
place and with such teams and tools MS
he may direct, provided that not more
work shall DO required during tho Guilt
walton and gathering OF tho crops than
may be- necessary to keep the roads In
passabla condition.
Soc. 1. Tho road commissioner shall,
during tho month OF July and August,
next, after tho passage OF this act, and
thereafter in the months OF January and
February, or July and August. require
all tho oversesrs in their respective
counties, with tho labor, tools and teams
assigned thom, to do tho full nun
Dor OF days work required OF them by
law on their respective links OF road,
regulating tho times OF work 30 Is to
secure the greatest use Of such tools,
scrapers or road machines az may DO
furnished by tho county.
Soc. s. Overseors OF second class roads
shall work their respective links Of road
as thoroughly as can BIO done with tho
labor assigned them, working tho en-
tire timo required by law, save one day,
for zach laborer. which shall DO held in
reserve for such incidental repairs as
may become necessary during tho re-
maindsr Of the year.
M u nSararnra ~ F.Zt nt.eu rn.Lx
shall assemble with thelrlaborsrs upon
their respective links OF roads At such
teams and tools as tho road commits.
sioner may direct and proceed to grade,
ditch and level their roads, and to erect
bridges or culyerts, according to plans
and specifications furnished by the road
commissioner, until they have worked
tho entire time required by law In one
year, provided that the road commits.
sioner may require such temporary rc-
pairs as may DO necessary between tho
unfinished links OF road.
Sec. 7. When all tho labor REQUIRED
by law to be done on the public roads
in one year shall havo been done the
road commissioner shall make q written
report to the board Of supervisors Of all
tho work done. and tho condition OF the
roads and bridges. and mako an esti.
mate OF the mount OF money necessary
to complete tho unfinished links OF oil
first class ODDS, II there be more than
one, estimating each separately.
Sec. =. On hearing tho report Of tho
road commissioner the board OF super
vlso.s may determine whether they will
complete the unfinished links OF all
lrst-class roads by contract, ~ provided
in Section 2,929 Of the Annotated Code,
or by the labor Of conyicts ~ provided
in Section 3,932 Of tho Annotated Code,
or by hirod labor under tho direction
and control OF tho road commissioner,
who shall make an itemizsd statement
Of all expenses incurred, which shall
be paid by warrant upon the county
treasury, payable out Of any county
funds not otherwise appropriated. But
should there be no such funds available,
to be provided by taxation ~
provided in Section 1881 Of tho Ammo
tated Code. Teams necessary TO the
prosecution Of tho work may be- pur-
chased or hirod as the board OF ~ per
visors may deem best.
Sec. 0. When all the roads OF tho a rst.
class shall have been completed a. pro-
vided In Section ~ Of this Act they
shall DO kept in repair by the labor sub
ject to duty on tho public roads, and by
Communication Of labor and flnos and for.
ieitures resulting from failure to per.
form road duties; and the board OF gu.
peryisors may In their discretion, dis.
with the services OF the road COM.
missioner.
soc. 10. Tho road com missioner may
u any time DO fined or removed from
office by the board OF supervisors for
negligence, Incompetence, or failure to
faithfully perform the duties Of his
office, and they shall at once appoint q