so much of said tax as shall have been found upon appeal to be due from the appellant. SEC. 41. The town in which the change of grade of a street or highway shall be made, shall be liable to any abutting proprietor whose estate therein shall be injured thereby, and the damages therefor, whether agreed upon or appraised by the town council or by the court, shall be paid by the town treasurer of such town, against whom, if he refuse or neglect to pay the same, an action may be had and maintained for such money, by the person to whom the same is due and payable. Towns liable to jury caused by change of grade. abutters for in SEC. 42. Hope, Prudence, Patience, and Hog Islands, are exempted Exemption of from the operation of the provisions of this chapter. certain islands. SECTION 1. Every person who shall fasten any vessel to any part of Weybosset Bridge, shall forfeit twenty dollars for each offence; to be recovered by the city treasurer of Providence to the use of said city. ; SEC. 2. Every person who shall lay any sloop or other vessel to the bridge over Apponaug River, or there load or unload wood or other heavy merchandise, shall forfeit twenty dollars for each offence; one half thereof to the use of the town of Warwick, and the other half thereof to the use of him who shall sue for the same. SEC. 3. Every person who shall make fast any canoe or boat to either of the abutments or any part of the bridge at Pawtuxet Falls, or throw any stones off from said bridge, shall forfeit five dollars; one half thereof to the use of the person who shall sue for the same, and the other half to the use of the towns of Warwick and Cranston. SEC. 4. The towns of Warwick and Cranston respectively, shall be empowered to appoint each one suitable person, to take care of said bridge, and to prevent damage or injury being done thereto. SEC. 5. Each of the said persons so appointed shall have power, and it shall be his special duty, to prosecute for any forfeiture incurred under the preceding two sections. SEC. 6. The towns of Tiverton and Portsmouth shall continue to provide by their town councils, at the joint expense of said towns, a suitable tender of the draw in Howland's Ferry Bridge, between said towns of Tiverton and Portsmouth, and the said draw tender shall Penalty for fastening vessel to Weybos set Bridge. Penalty for lading wood, &c., at Apponaug Bridge. Penalty for persons to take charge of bridge, how appointed. Powers of, to prosecute, &c. Draw tender of y Bridge, how appointed. Bridge, how maintained. Kelly's Bridge, and Warren and Barrington Bridge, how maintained. open and close the said draw for the passage of vessels, in the manner provided by law. SEC. 7. The towns of Little Compton, Tiverton, Portsmouth, Middletown, and Newport shall continue to maintain and keep the said bridge and draw in repair for the public, as a free bridge, at their joint expense. SEC. 8. The towns of Bristol, Warren, and Barrington shall continue to maintain and keep in repair, at the joint expense of the said towns, Kelly's Bridge across the Warren River, and the Warren and Barrington Bridge across the Barrington River, and shall provide a suitable man or men to attend to the draws in the said bridges. Travellers to keep to the right, &c. Penalty for violating said rule. Duty of driver of loaded team. Penalty for leaving team at large. Penalties for fast driving. SECTION 1. Every person travelling with any carriage or other vehicle who shall meet any other person so travelling on any highway or bridge, shall seasonably drive his carriage or vehicle to the right of the centre of the travelled part of the road, so as to enable such person to pass with his carriage or vehicle without interference or interruption. SEC. 2. Every person who shall wilfully violate the provisions of the preceding section shall be fined five dollars, and shall be liable for all damages sustained in consequence of any neglect to comply with said provisions. SEC. 3. It shall be optional with the driver of any loaded team, when met or overtaken by any empty team or pleasure carriage, either to stop his team until the team or carriage by which he shall be met or overtaken shall have passed, if there be sufficient room, or to give half the way as aforesaid. SEC. 4. Every person having charge of any wheel carriage of any kind, or sled or sleigh with any kind of team, who shall negligently or wilfully leave the same to go at large, in any highway, shall be fined five dollars. SEC. 5. Every person who shall ride or drive faster than a common travelling pace, in any of the streets of Newport or Providence, or in the compact part of any towns or villages in the state, or in either road leading from Pawtuxet to the compact part of Providence, shall, unless justifiable cause be made to appear for such riding, be fined not less than five dollars, nor more than twenty dollars, for each offence; one half of said sum to the use of the complainant, and the other half thereof to the use of the town where the offence was committed. Penalty for SEC. 6. Every person who shall drive any horse over any of the public highways, for the purpose of racing, or trying the speed of racing on highsaid horse, shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than three nor more than twenty dollars. ways. 4. Penalty on town for refusing to 5. Penalty for neglecting to deter- 6. Penalty for injuring guide-posts. 3. Towns may agree upon substitutes for such guide-posts. SECTION 1. The several town councils shall, from time to time, determine the corners and angles of all roads within their respective towns at which it shall be necessary to erect and maintain guideposts, and shall keep a record of their decision among the records of their proceedings. SEC. 2. Such town councils shall cause to be erected and maintained, at the several corners and angles so determined, a substantial post, not less than eight feet high; upon the upper end of which shall be placed a board, upon which shall be plainly and legibly painted the name of the next town, with such other noted town or place as may be judged most expedient for the direction of travellers, to which each of the roads may lead, together with the number of miles to the same; and also the figure of a hand, with the forefinger thereof pointing toward the town or place to which the said road may lead. Where guideposts shall be erected. Towns to erect and maintain guide-posts; size of, and inscription there on. SEC. 3. The inhabitants of any town may agree upon some suit- Substitutes. able substitute for said guide-posts, and appoint any proper person to superintend the erection and support of the same. Penalty on town for not maintaining SEC. 4. Every town which shall neglect or refuse to keep, at all times, guide-posts erected and maintained, at the places and in the manner above prescribed, shall be fined three dollars for every month guide-posts. it shall so neglect or refuse. SEC. 5. Every town council which shall neglect or refuse to determine upon proper places at which guide-posts shall be erected and maintained, shall be fined five dollars for every month they shall so neglect or refuse. For not determining places for. SEC. 6. Every person who shall injure, mar, or deface any guide- Penalty for inpost, or its substitute, agreed upon as aforesaid, or board which shall juring. be set up, as is herein provided, shall forfeit not exceeding twenty dollars, nor less than five dollars, to the use of the town. SEC. 7. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the towns of Jamestown and New Shoreham. Jamestown and New Shoreham exempted, &c. TITLE XI. OF THE SETTLEMENT AND SUPPORT OF PAUPERS, AND CHAPTER 64. Of the settlement of paupers. CHAPTER 65. Of the support and discipline of paupers. Rules of settlement. Married wo men. Legitimate children. Illegitimate children. Minor apprentices. SECTION 1. A legal settlement in any town shall be gained, so as to oblige such town to relieve and support the person gaining the same in case he becomes poor and stands in need of relief, by any of the ways and means following, and not otherwise : First. A married woman shall always follow and have the settlement of her husband, if he has any settlement in this state, or in any of the United States; but if he has no settlement within this state, or in any other of the United States, the wife shall have and retain her settlement at the time of her marriage, and the husband, in such case, shall follow and have the settlement of his wife. Second. Legitimate children shall follow and have the settlement of their father, until they arrive at the age of twenty-one years, if the father shall, before that time, have any settlement in this state, or in any other of the United States, and shall retain such settlement until they gain a settlement of their own; but if the father, before that time, shall not have any settlement in this state, or in any other of the United States, the children shall in like manner follow and have the settlement of the mother. Third. Illegitimate children born within this state shall follow and have the settlement of their mother at the time of their birth; but neither legitimate nor illegitimate children shall gain a settlement by birth in the places where they may be born, if neither of their parents shall have a settlement there. Fourth. Every minor who shall serve an apprenticeship to any lawful trade for the space of three years in any town, and actually set up the same therein within three years after the expiration of the said term, being then twenty-one years of age, and shall continue to carry on the same for the space of five years, shall thereby gain a settlement in such town; but such person being hired as a journeyman shall not be considered as setting up a trade. Fifth. Every person of twenty-one years of age, having an estate Freeholders. of inheritance or freehold in the town where he shall dwell and have his home, of the yearly income of twenty dollars, over and above the interest of any mortgage which shall be thereon, and taking the rents and profits thereof for three years successively, whether he live thereupon or not, shall thereby gain a settlement therein. Sixth. Every person of twenty-one years of age, having a real Owners of real estate which shall be of the value of two hundred dollars, over and estate. above any mortgage or encumbrance which may be thereon, and being assessed for the same in the state and town taxes, and actually paying the same for five years successively, in the town where he dwells and has his home, shall thereby gain a settlement therein. SEC. 2. Every legal settlement, when gained, shall continue until Settlement, lost or defeated by gaining a new one; and upon gaining such new how lost, &c. settlement, all former settlements shall be defeated and lost. CHAPTER 65. OF THE SUPPORT AND DISCIPLINE OF PAUPERS. SECTION 1. Obligation of towns to relieve poor inhabitants settled in. 2. General duty of overseers of poor. 3. Poor, where to be relieved, supported, and employed. 4. Mode of relief of, in Providence. 5. Obligation of kindred to relieve. 6. Obligation of kindred, how enforced and in what manner. 7. Proceedings on complaints. 8. Extent of assessment. 9. Further assessments, how made. 10. Court may order where pauper shall live. 11. Other kindred may be summoned. 12. Costs, when recovered. 13. Court may make new orders. 14. Power of overseers of poor to bind out children, and what children. 15. Corporal punishment of poor, and confinement of, in dungeons, prohibited. SECTION 16. Close confinement of, restrained. 18. Remedy for poor, in case of town's 20. Proceedings on report of. 21. Fees of commissioners. 24. Paupers dying in towns of which 25. Power of towns to commit to alms- 26. Power to commit paupers having 27. Liability of kindred for sums ex- SECTION 1. Every town shall be holden to relieve and support all Towns to suppoor and indigent persons lawfully settled therein, whenever they port poor. shall stand in need thereof, and to afford temporary relief to other poor and indigent persons. |