Year: 1873

Repairing of Gravel Roads


ImpOrianttO to Township Trus-
tees.


Our readers are generally aware that the
Legislature has done away with the Office of


Pike Superintendent. The work of keep


ing gravel roads in repair now devolves on


the Township Trustees. The law says that


they shall have full charg- and control of all


gravel roads within their township; and it


shall be the duty of the trustees to divide
such roads into sections of not less than


one-half mile each, and to keep them in


good repair, in good condition for all kinds


of public travel, and for that purpose they
are invested with all necessary powers as to


drainage, and the procuring and removing
of material required for repairs on such
roads, as are now or may be conferred by
law upon supervisors of roads and high
ways. All repairs shall be done under con-
tract; such contracts shall be let to the
lowest responsible bidder, and before letting
any such contract the trustees shall adver-
tise for bids at least twenty days by pnbli-
cation in some newspaper of general circu-
lation in such, township, or by posting
printed or written notices thereof in at least
five of the most public places in the town
ship, and all payments for gravel or stone
shall be by the actual cubic yard, placed
upon the road; and repairs of the road bed
and contents shall be made under contracts
made in accordance with plans and specifi-
cations to be provided by the trustees The
trustees may require any person or persons
bidding for any contract to give bond for
the faithful performance of the contract,
in such sum as they may require, and with
sureties, to be approved by them. All
work done under any such contract must be
accepted by the trustees before any payment
shall be made thereon All work authoriz-
ed shall be completed on or before the first
day of November of each year provided,
that the trustees may, in their discretion, at
their regular March session, annually appor-
ton and assign to the several supervisors Of
roads and highways in their township, such
road or roads or any part or parts thereof in
the road districts of such supervisors, re-
Spectiyely, to be by them kept in repair, as is
required by law, and under the control and
supervision of the trustees. The trustees
shall transmit to the Commissioners of the
county, prior to their regular quarterly
meeting, on the first Monday in June in
each year, statement showing the number
of miles of free gravel roads in their town
ships, the amoupt of levy made for road
purposes, and the pro rata of the same set
apart for keeping in repair the improved
and free gravel roads, and expended on the
same, and the conditions in which such
roads are for public travel. The township
trustees shall provide means for keeping in
repair all such improved roads within their
township, and for that purpose shall set off
persons and districts, who shall perform
their two days labor as required by law,
and also labor in commutation of taxes. the
same to be worked out under the direction
of the trustees or supervisors, who are au-
thorized to give receipts therefor as other
road supervisors; and they shall set off
from the common road fund of their town. |
ship such amount as to them shall seem
equitable, to be an improved road fund,
applicable to the care and i'm
provement of gravel roads, and may also
allow the use of any plows, scrapers, or 9th
er implements owned by. the township for
road purposes.