NEIGHBORHOOD ROAD IMPROVEMENT.
Mr. Kenner's bill [H. R. 305] to allow the owners of real estate to petition for the improvement of streets, highways, etc., by a majority land owners, was read the third time.
Mr. KENNER said--I introduced this bill upon the request of a large number of people. it is out of the line of gravel road bills. A great many people who live along roads would gradually like to gravel it, but they do not want to gravel a portion of it and then have some corporation come along and complete the work and charge toll.
This bill simply gives them the privilege to improve a road of their own accord gratuitously, and the Board of Commissioners must give them the right of way when they do that so that no corporation or Company can come along, complete the work and take it away from them. They make the road for their own convenience. There have been instances of that kind in our County, where in course of four or five years several miles were page: 125[View Page 125] graveled, after which corporations got control of the road and reaped the benefit of the work.
The bill passed--yeas, 68; nays, 0.
