Chap. 288.—An ACT to provide for working and keeping in repair the roads and
bridges in the county of Essex, and providing what tax shall be used for keep-
ing the same in order.

Approved May 20, 1903.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That from and
after the passing of this act the manner of working. repairing, and main-
taining the roads and bridges in the county of Essex shall be as fol-
lows: It shall be the duty of the judge of the circuit court of Essex
county, during the month of May, or as soon thereafter as is practicable,
to appoint from each district in said county three tax-payers and voters
living in different sections of their respective districts ; and, furthermore.
to be men of good judgment and possess a practical knowledge of road
making, who shall be known as the “board of road commissioners,” and
whose term as said commissioners shall be four years, unless sooner re-
moved by said circuit judge for neglect of duty. or any other reason
which, in his judgment, shall seem proper and sufficient.

2. It shall he the duty of the road commissioners, as soon as practicable.
after being notified of their appointment by the clerk of the cirenit court,
to meet and elect from their number a chairman and secretary, and at
once proceed to divide all of the public roads in the several districts of
the county into sections of not more than five miles each, to be num-
bered, described, and: known as “road section number , in ————
district.” The road commissioners shall estimate what amount will be
necessary for the repairing and keeping in order of all county roads and
bridges within each road section in such manner and under such regula-
tions and restrictions, plans, specification, and estimates as they may pre-
scribe, taking in consideration the probable amount coming to each dis-
trict as reported to them by the county treasurer, said amount known as
“district road tax.”

3. It shall be the duty of said commissioners in each district, after es-
timating the amount to which each road section shall be entitled, to let
out the respective road sections to farmers or tax-payers on or contiguous
to the sections assigned them, who shall be known as “road overseer of
section .” But before any overseer enters upon his duties as such,
shall enter into a contract in writing with the road commissioners, for
the term of one year, accurately and particularly setting forth what work
is required of the overseer, and what compensation he shall receive for
said work, the commissioners to reserve the right to revoke the said con-
tract for non-compliance, or, in case of partial compliance, to withhold
so much of the amount due said overseer as may be right and proper.
But when said contract has been fully complied with on the part of the
overseer, the road commissioners shall certify their respective claims to
the board of supervisors for payment.

4. It shall be the duty of each commissioner to carefully look over
the roads in his section of the district and inform himself whether or not
the overseers are recognizing and carrying out the terms of their respec-
tive contracts, and in case of any disagreement between the overseer and
local road commissioner, either one may refer the matter to the three dis-
trict road commissioners, from whose decision there shall be no appeal.

5. The road commissioners shall keep an accurate account of all dis-
bursements made by them, and render an annual statement in writing,
under oath, to the board of supervisors for Essex county. And should
a road commissioner of a district be unable to get a suitable overseer for
any section or sections, then the commissioner nearest to said vacancy
shall himself hire labor to do such work as may be actually necessary, in
order that public travel may not be obstructed, and render a statement in
writing, under oath, showing the amount on account of labor, team,
wagons, or other implements used in working said sections, to the full
board of road commissioners, and when approved by them, shall be cer-
tified as other claims, being signed by the chairman and secretary of said
board of commissioners.

6. The road commissioners shall each receive as their compensation
the sum of one dollar per day for each day he is actually engaged in the
performance of his duties under this act: provided, that no member of
said board of commissioners shall receive more than twelve dollars in
any one year for his services as such commissioner. :

7. The board of supervisors are required under this act to give to each
district all funds arising or derived from the taxing of dogs in said dis-

trict (after paying commissions that may be due the treasurer of the
county from this source and damage done to stocks). This fund shall be
known as “the permanent,improvement road fund,” and shall be used only
in constructing good roads, or as near such as conditions and circuim-
stances will admit of. The necessary machinery for the constructing of
aforesaid permanent roads shall be purchased by the board of supervisors
out of the general county levy. As each section of road is made perma-
nent, the salary of the overseer of said section shall go to the “perma-
nent road fund,” except so much as will be necessary to pay the over-
seer to watch over the said work, keep drains open, remove blown-down
trees, brush, et cetera.

8. All of the aforesaid permanent improvements shall be controlled by
and under the personal supervision of the road commissioners of their re-
spective districts, whose duty it shall also be to see that all machinery,
tools, et cetera, furnished them by the board of supervisors are properly
cared for.

9. All acts and parts of acts in conflict with this act are to this extent
repealed. This act shall be construed to repeal the general law on roads
only to the extent it conflicts therewith.

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