CHAP.
LIX.
Courts may
direct the surveyors,
&c. |
such applications no inconvenience can arise to the citizens thereof;
therefore,
Be it enacted, That
upon application, in writing, from all of the proprietors of
the lands through which any public
road is intended to pass, for the purpose of
obtaining any such road, the levy
courts of the counties aforesaid respectively,
being satisfied that the granting
the same will be of public convenience, shall
have full power, and they are hereby
authorised, to direct the surveyor of their
county to lay out any such road,
not exceeding twenty feet in breadth, and to
make return thereof to the said
levy court; and after the road shall be surveyed
and laid out agreeably to this act,
the said court shall direct the application of
such road, and the return thereof,
to be recorded by the clerk of the county
court among the records thereof,
and thereafter and thereupon such road shall be
considered as a public road, and
shall be kept up as other public roads are in the
said counties respectively. |
Preamble.
Supervisors
may require
slaves to
work, &c.
Penalty for
not furnishing,
&c.
Seven justices
to act, &c.
Part of an
act extended,
&c.
Damages to
be valued,
&c. |
WHEREAS it is represented to this general assembly, that in Kent and
Talbot counties a sufficient number of bands cannot be hired for
reasonable wages to repair the public roads in said counties, by which
means they remain in bad condition, and the supervisors subjected to
a fine for
neglect; for remedy whereof,
II. Be it enacted,
by
the General Assembly of Maryland, That the supervisors
in the said counties of Kent and
Talbot shall have full power and authority,
whenever it may be necessary, except
in time of harvest, to require of the
owner or owners thereof in their
respective countries, as many male able-bodied
slaves, most convenient to the roads
to be repaired, as may be necessary to work
on the same, not exceeding one had
of the said slaves belonging to any person
on any one day, nor shall any person
be compelled to render more service in
any one year than his or her road
taxes amount to.
III. And
be it enacted, That for every
slave so required by the supervisor,
and not furnished, the owner thereof
shall forfeit and pay the sum of five shillings,
to be recovered by the supervisors
in the said counties respectively as in
case of small debts, and when received,
shall be accounted for on oath, and
be applied to repairing the public
roads in their county.
IV. And
be it enacted, That in Cæcil
county seven justices of the peace, or
any greater number of said justices,
shall and they are hereby empowered to
act as a levy court, and a majority
of such court shall decide in all cases arising
under the act to which this is an
additional supplement, and the supplements
thereto.
V. And
be it enacted, That in Cæcil,
Kent and Talbot counties, all that
part of an act passed at November
session, seventeen hundred and ninety-five,
entitled, A supplement to an act
relating to public roads in this state, and to
repeal the acts of assembly therein
mentioned, which relates to opening, clearing,
improving, or keeping in repair,
roads upon contract, be applicable and extend
to such roads as were laid out previous
to the passing the said act.
VI. And
be it enacted, That in Cæcil
county where any sum of money shall
be claimed for damages done to any
person or persons by a new road going
through his, her or their land,
or by the streightening or widening of an old
road, the levy court may appoint
three persons, not related to such claimant,
nor interested in the claim as commissioners,
to value, on oath or affirmation,
such damages; and any sum agreed
on by any two of such commissioners may |
