Chap. 144.—An ACT to amend and re-enact sections 3 and 8 of an act
approved March 6, 1900, entitled an act for working and keeping in
order the public roads of Mecklenburg county, and to provide for the
levy of taxes for that purpose. (H. B. 148.)

Approved March 10, 1916.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
sections three and eight of an act entitled an act for working
and keeping in order the public roads of Mecklenburg county,
and to provide for the levy of taxes for that purpose, shall be
amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

sec. 3. The board of road commissioners of each district,
as above constituted, shall have entire charge of the working
and keeping in repair all roads in their respective districts. The
said board shall employ a suitable person possessed of skill
and intelligence as to working of roads, to be known as road
superintendent for said district. Each road superintendent,
under the direction of his board, shall work, and cause to be
worked and kept in good order for public travel, all of the public
roads of his district. He shall, as far as practicable, cause the
roads under his charge to be kept clear and smooth, free from
loose stones and other obstructions, thirty feet wide, unless
otherwise ordered by the road board, and where practicable the
bed of the road raised in the middle and slope gradually at each
way to the sides, where ditches sufficient to carry off the water
shall be made and kept open. He shall also cause all dead tim-
ber liable to fall in the road to be removed. He shall keep at
the fork or crossing of every road a sign board, on which shall
be plainly lettered the most notable points to which each road
leads, and a sufficient bridge, bench, or log, for the accommo-
dation of foot passengers. He shall also, if directed by the
board, provide suitable watering places on the lines of roads
under his charge for the accommodation of stock and persons,
and for failure to discharge his duties he shall be liable to pre-
sentment by the grand jury of the circuit court, and upon con-
viction before the circuit court which shall have jurisdiction
to try the same, be fined not exceeding fifty dollars. To enable
him to comply with the above provisions he shall employ, at
prices to be fixed by the road board, all labor necessary for the
purpose, and shall employ all necessary tools and teams; pro-
vided, the same be not furnished him by the road board at prices
to be fixed by said board. The road boards are authorized, if
they deem best so to do, to buy or otherwise arrange for the
necessary tools and team for working of roads, which shall be
taken care of by the superintendent of roads unless otherwise
ordered by their road board and used for working of public
roads. Each road board shall fix the compensation of the super-
intendent of roads. The road board in each district shall re-
ceive a sum not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars per
annum as compensation for their services, to be divided among
the members of each board as they may direct. The cost inci-
dent to, and of working and keeping in order the roads of each
district, shall be paid by warrant of road board on the treasurer
of the county, out of the respective district road fund, appor-
tioned to each road district by the board of supervisors as here-
inafter provided.

_ Sec. 8. The board of supervisors may, in their discretion,
in addition to the tax for road purpose above provided for,
levy a tax on each dog in the county in addition to that already
assessed on dogs as now provided by general law not to exceed
two dollars, each, and may, in their discretion, adopt a uniform
annual license tag and require the owner of each dog to keep
such license tag on his dog; the treasurer shall annually issue
the license tag to each dog owner on application; for his services
he shall be paid a sum not to exceed ten cents on each dog. The
fund arising from such levy shall be apportioned to the several
road districts as other road funds are apportioned. If any per-
son fails to comply with the requirements of the board of super-
visors under this section hegshall be fined not less than five dol-
lars nor more than ten dollars.