Highways and Roads - Historical Notes

The following is a listing of acts which once had some effect upon the county road system in Hancock County, but which are no longer operative.  Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Acts of 1853-54, Chapter 249, appropriated $4,000 for the purpose of constructing a road, beginning at or near Mulberry Gap in Hancock County to Sneedville then across Clinch Mountain to Rogersville in Hawkins County.
2. Private Acts of 1865-66, Chapter 88, Section 46, provided that Henry Taylor, Joseph Campbell and Martial Greene constitute a body politic and corporate under the name of the Sneedville Turnpike Company, for the purpose of constructing a turnpike road from Sneedville, in Hancock County, to Rogersville or Russellville, as determined by the corporation.  This section was repealed by Private Acts of 1866-67, Chapter 27, which replaced the Sneedville Turnpike Company with the Sneedville and Rogersville Turnpike Company for the purpose of constructing a turnpike road from Sneedville in Hancock County to Rogersville in Hawkins County.
3. Public Acts of 1901, Chapter 136, regulated the working and laying out of public roads in the state except in counties of 70,000 inhabitants and over by the Federal Census of 1900.
4. Acts of 1903, Chapter 282, authorized a $50,000 bond issue for the purpose of building bridges across the Clinch River near Sneedville and across Powell's River at the mouth of Mulberry Creek.
5. Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 405, was a $100,000 bond issue to be used for improving public roads in Hancock County.  This act also provided for a commission of three members to be appointed by the county court to oversee the expenditure of the proceeds from this sale.
6. Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 300, regulated the laying out, working, changing, opening and closing of public roads in Hancock County.  This act created a board of road commissioners for each civil district and defined their powers and duties; provided for the management and control of county jails and workhouses with respect to public roads and provided for the raising of funds for use of public roads in Hancock County.
7. Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 155, was the first road law for Hancock County.  It provided for the election of a road commissioner from each road district, which were the same as the civil districts.  It also provided for a road tax and had road duty provisions for able-bodied male residents of the county.  This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1978, Chapter 204.
8. Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 522, authorized a bond issue of $200,000 to be used for improving roads and bridges on the top of Newman's Ridge.  These bonds were to have a maximum interest rate of 6% and their maturity date was to be set by the Hancock County Court.
9. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 405, authorized the Hancock County Court to issue bonds in the amount of $200,000, to be used for improving public highways.  This bond issue was subject to voter approval and was to have a maximum annual interest rate of 5% per annum.
10. Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 730, was a road law which applied to Decatur, Hancock, Cheatham and Cannon counties.  This act created three member boards of public road commissioners, one of whom was to be designated the superintendent of public roads.
11. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 311, authorized the Hancock County Court to issue warrants in an amount not larger than $25,000, to be used to improve, grade, and macadamize a road from Luther, Tennessee via Henry Holt's place and Dr. B. T. Campbell's place to the Grainger County line.
12. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 540, set up the office of superintendent of public roads for Hancock County, to be elected by the county court every two years and to have general supervision of the county roads.  This act also provided for a road tax levy and had provisions for road duty.  Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 145, amended this law to give the Hancock County Court the authority to designate the number of days of road duty to be worked by Hancock County residents.  This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1978, Chapter 204.
13. Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 681, was the next road law for Hancock County.  It provided that the county court was to elect a road commissioner from each road district, who would then appoint a road supervisor for that district.  This law also had provisions for road duty and authorized a road tax levy.  This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1978, Chapter 204.
14. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 738, was a bond issue of $150,000, to be used for building bridges and improving roads in Hancock County.  This act also appointed a road commission to oversee expenditure of these funds and designated the roads to be improved with those funds.
15. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 538, was the next road law for Hancock County, authorizing the county court to appoint for a two year term a superintendent of public roads, who would be paid $600 annually and would have charge and control of all county roads and road equipment.  This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 147.
16. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 716, required road hands to work three days each year or to commute such labor by the payment of $1.00 per day to their district road overseer.  This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 146.