78

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

Dec. Sess.

1814.

think proper; and where there may seem reasonable
cause to suspect that any can, wagon or other carriage
of burthen, carries a greater weight than is or shall be
by law allowable, it shall be lawful for the toll-gatherers,
or other persons in their service or employment, to pre-
vent the same from passing such gate or turnpike until
such cart, wagon or other carriage of burthen shall be
drawn into the fixed or erected scales at or near any such
gate or turnpike, and the weight or burthen drawn there-
in ascertained by weighing; and if the person or persons
driving or having care or charge of any such cart, wa-
gon or other carriage of burthen, shall refuse to drive
the same into any such scales for the purpose aforesaid,
the person or persons so refusing shall forfeit and pay to
the said president, managers and company, any sum not

less than five dollars nor more than eight dollars, to be
recovered in the manner hereinafter mentioned.

Lawful bur-
thens—pen-
alty in case of
excess.

16. AND BE IT ENACTED, That no wagon or
other carriage with four wheels, the breadth of whose
wheels shall not be four inches, shall be drawn along the
said road with a greater weight thereon than two and an
half tons; that no such carriage, the breadth of whose
wheels shall not be seven' inches, or being six in-,
ches or more shall roll at least ten inches, shall be drawn
along the said road with more than five tons; that no
such carriage, the breadth of whose wheels shall not be
ten inches or more, or being less shall not roll at least
twelve inches, shall be drawn along the said road with
more than eight tons; that no cart or other carriage with
two wheels,, the same breadth -of wheels as the wagons
aforesaid, shall be drawn along1 the said road with more
than half the burthen or weight aforesaid. And if any
cart, wagon or carriage of burthen whatsoever, shall be
drawn along the said road with a greater weight than is
hereby allowed, the owner or owners of such carriage,

Provisos.

if the excess of burthen shall be three hundred weight
or upwards, shall forfeit and pay four times the custom-
ary tolls for the use of the company; Provided always,
that it shall and may be lawful for the said company, by.
their by-laws, to alter any or all the regulations herein,
contained respecting the burthens or carriages to be
drawn over the said road, and to substitute other regula-
tions, if upon experiment such alterations shall be found
conducive to the public good; Provided nevertheless, that,
such regulations shall not lessen the burthen of carriages

above described.

Court of in-
spection—an-
nual account
of disburse,
ments and ex-
penditures —
court may re-
duce the rate
of tolls.

17. AND BE IT ENACTED, That the treasurer of
the Western Shore be, and he is hereby constituted a
court of inspection, and it shall and may be the duty of
the said company once every year, (and oftner if re--
quired by the court,) to lay before the same a correct:
and methodical account of their disbursements and ex-
penditares, and of the amount of tolls collected