Chap. 283.—An ACT to authorize the board of supervisors of Clarke county to
issue bonds of the county to macadamize the public roads of the several magis-
terial districts of the county.

Approved May 20, 1903.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That upon the
petition of one-fourth of the freehold voters of any magisterial district
of said county, the judge of the circuit court of the county shall order a
special election to be held in said district to ascertain the sentiment of
the voters of the district as to the issuing of the bonds of the county
(the principal and interest of said bonds to be paid by levying a tax on
said district) for the purpose of macadamizing the public roads of said
district. In its order the court shall prescribe ‘the style of ballot and the
method of conducting the election and certifving the returns, all of which
shall conform as nearly as may be to the provisions of the general law
regulating special elections.

2. If a majority of the qualified and registered voters of said district
shall vote in favor of issuing bonds to be paid by a levy upon all: the
property, real and personal, in said district, the board of supervisors of
the district shall issue the bonds of the county, either registered or cou-
pon, bearing a rate of interest no greater than five per centum, to an
amount not exceeding at anv time in the aggregate a sum the interest
upon which, at a rate not greater than five per centum per annum, may
be paid by a levy of fifteen cents upon the hundred dollars of the assessed
vane of all taxable real estate and personal property in said district.

. The board of supervisors of the county may issue said bonds for such
avenvat and as may in its diseretion be necessary; the bonds so issued
from time to time shall not be for a Jonger term than thirty years, and
may be made payable at such time or times as the board of supervisors
may deem best.

All bonds shall be in such form as the board may direct, and shall
be signed by the chairman of the board and attested by the clerk of said
board of supervisors. None of the bonds shall be sold at less than their
par value.

5. The board of supervisors shall annually Jevy upon all the assessed
property (real and personal) of said district. a special tax, not exceeding
twenty on the hundred dollars. and the sum derived from said levy shall
be used to pay the interest on the honds issued under this act and to create
a sinking fund for the payment of said bonds. Should the board fail or
refuse to levy said tax, the cireuit court of the county shall issue its man-
cams compelling them so to do.

The board of supervisors, before undertaking to macadamize or

otherwise permanently improve any road, shall] require to be made out
specifications of the work proposed to be done, and shall advertise for bids
for the work to he done in some paper published in the county, or if there
be no paper published in said county, in a paper having eireuiation
therein, and by printed handbills thoroughly distributed and posted in
said county. said work to be given to the lowest possible bidder, who
shall give bond for proper per formance of the work; but aid board, in its
discretion, may reject any or all bids: provided, however, that the board
of supervisors may, in its diseretion, employ hands to do the work. No
work shall be paid for, whether done by contract or othewise, unless ap-
proves by the board of supervisors.

. Before undertaking the improvement of anv road, the board of su-
pervisors shall inspect said road, and if in its opinion changes of loeation
are necessary to improve the grade or shorten the distance, it shall take
such steps as are required hy law to effeet such changes.

8. All money paid out under this act shall be upon warrants drawn or
the county treasurer, signed by the chairman of the board of supervisors
and attested by the elerk of the board. The treasurer shall keep all money
arising from the sale of bonds in a separate account for each district
which shall be ealled the “road improvement fund” of the district voting
issue bonds. All warrants issued on this fund shall state on their face
at they are for road improvements within the distriet voting to issue
nds. and shall be so accounted for by the treasurer.

. The treasurer shall have for receiving and disbursing said fund

& pe r centum on the amount derived from the sale of the bonds.

10. From the amount collected under the levy provided for in section
« of this act the board of supervisors shall require the treasurer each
ar to set apart three cents on the hundred dollars of assessed value of all
al estate and personal property in said district as a sinking fund for the
yment of said bonds; said sinking fund shall be deposited In some bank
lected by the board of supervisors at such rate of interest as mav be
reed upon, and said board of supe rvisors may, In its discretion, require
“ bank to give bond, with security, for the safe-keeping of said fund.

The board of supervisors shall cause to be kept an itemized account
a Hi work done and money expended in road improvements under this
t. which shall be recorded by the clerk of the board of supervisors in a
wk to be kept for the purpose. and published in the same manner pro-
‘ by law for the publication of other expenditures.

This act shall be liberally construed, to the end that its purposes
av be fully carried out. .

13. Nothing in this act shall be construed to interfere with the use of
nvicts in the building and working of roads as may be now or hereafter
ovided by law.

14. This act shall be in force from its passage.