out as a highway, such laying out shall not be deemed or construed to affect or in anywise alter the rights or duties of the town, or any individual, as to the maintenance of bridges over any part of said new highway which so nearly coincide with the old highway as not to require the removal of such bridges, or the building of them in a different place from which they previously stood. SEC. 27. Every person owning land adjoining any public highway or turnpike-road, may build such bridges or culverts, over the ditches which may be made in such highway or road for the passage of water, as may be necessary to render the passage from such land to such highway or road safe and convenient; and no such bridge or culvert shall be altered, removed or disturbed by any person, except under the direction of the town council of the town where the same may be situated, or of some person by them appointed. SEC. 28. No surveyor of highways, or officer, agent or servant of any turnpike company, shall remove the earth so near to any wall or fence erected upon or without the limits of such highway or company's road, as to undermine or overthrow the same, unless the same shall be absolutely necessary for the security or convenience of the public; and in that case the repairs shall be made under the supervision of the town council, or of some person by them appointed; and the town or turnpike company shall be at the expense of repairing or resetting the wall or fence removed. SEC. 29. Surveyors of highways shall be paid out of the town treasury, at the rate of one dollar per day, for all the time necessarily spent in the discharge of the duties of their office, when no other mode or amount of compensation shall have been provided by any town or town council. SEC. 30. Each surveyor of highways who shall neglect the duties of his trust, shall forfeit twenty dollars for each neglect, to be recovered in the name of the town treasurer, to the use of the town. SEC. 31. Instead of the mode herein prescribed for mending highways and bridges by taxes as aforesaid, any town may defray the expenses of repairing and keeping the same open out of the town treasury of such town, or otherwise, as they may find expedient, any thing herein to the contrary notwithstanding; in which case the town may appoint surveyors thereof at any town meeting legally convened. SEC. 32. Hope, Prudence, Patience, and Hogg Islands are exempted from the operation of the provisions of this chapter. SECTION 1. Any 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. Any person who shall lay any sloop or other vessel unto the bridge over Apponaug river, or there load or unload wood or other heavy merchandise, shall forfeit five 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. Any 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. 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 guide-posts, 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. SEC. 3. The inhabitants of any town may agree upon some suitable substitute for said guide-posts, and appoint any proper person to superintend the erection and support of the same. SEC. 4. Any town which shall neglect or refuse to keep, at all times, guide boards erected and maintained, at the places and in the manner above prescribed shall be fined three dollars for every month it shall so neglect or refuse. SEC. 5. Any 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. SEC. 6. Any person who shall injure, mar or deface any guidepost, or its substitute, agreed upon as aforesaid, or board which shall be set up, as is herein provided, shall forfeit not exceeding twenty dollars, nor less than two 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. SECTION 1. Every person travelling with any carriage or other vehicle, who shall meet any other person so travelling on any high way 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. Any 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. Any 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. Any 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 two 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. SEC. 6. Any person who shall drive rapidly along any part of the Providence and Pawtucket Turnpike-road, for the purpose of racing, or trying the speed of horses, or shall drive furiously along said road, shall be fined not more than twenty dollars nor less than five dollars. SEC. 7. The agent of said turnpike may prosecute for any vio lation of the last section, in the name of the state, without giving bond for the payment of costs. SECTION 11. Duties of inspectors of ferries. SECTION proprietors of ferries who shall transport passengers, &c. 15. Laws respecting ferries and ferriage to be posted up. 16. Penalty for not posting up laws, &c. SECTION 1. The respective proprietors on each side of the two ferries kept between Newport and Jamestown, of that between Jamestown and South Kingstown, called the south ferry, and of that between Bristol and Portsmouth, shall continue to be vested with the exclusive right and privilege of conveying and transporting passengers, horses, neat-cattle, and all other freight across their respective ferries, for the several rates of ferriage hereinafter prescribed, and subject to the regulations and penalties which are or may be by law provided. SEC. 2. The said proprietors, respectively, shall constantly keep and maintain, at each of their said ferries, and on each side thereof, one good boat, with proper and sufficient tackle and apparel, together with two good oars and one boat-hook, and a small rowboat with suitable oars; which shall, at all times, be kept afloat, and in constant readiness, and shall, on the application of any person for the conveyance or transportation of himself or freight across said ferries, and on paying or tendering the lawful ferriage therefor, be put off, and shall proceed across said ferries, wind and weather permitting. SEC. 3. The proprietors of each of said ferries shall keep their respective ferry wharves in good repair, so that at common low water their respective boats can receive on board freight and passengers afloat, and come to, sail and proceed across said ferries, weather permitting. SEC. 4. Passengers and freight at Bristol ferry shall, on all days, except Sundays, thanksgiving days, and fast days, be conveyed across said ferry, between sunrise and eight o'clock in the afternoon, from the first day of March to the first day of December, and between sunrise and six o'clock in the afternoon from the first day of December to the first day of March, on tender or payment of single ferriage; before and after those hours, and on Sundays, thanksgiving days, and fast days, on tender or payment of double ferriage. SEC. 5. Passengers and freight, at the said other ferries shall, on all days except Sundays, thanksgiving days and fast days, be conveyed across said ferries, between sunrise and sunset, on tender or payment of single ferriage, and on Sundays, thanksgiving days and fast days, and on all hours before sunrise and after sunset, on tender or payment of double ferriage. SEC. 6. Physicians, surgeons and midwives, on their professional duties, and persons going after them, shall be conveyed across any ferry at any time, on tender or payment of single ferriage. SEC. 7. The proprietors of the said ferries shall be entitled to receive the following rates of ferriage and no more, to wit: |