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But postponing the acceptance of bids to another term did nothing to resolve the dilemma. The Board could not afford to hire the roads maintained. The Road Law by which they could assign county citizens to maintain the roads had been repealed.
The Board did what they could, which was absolutely nothing. The roads rapidly deteriorated.
Finally, on March 16, 1868—more than a year later—the Police Court addressed the following resolution to the Military District:
"Whereas, under the road law specially passed for the County of Hancock and approved on the 30th day of October 1866 requiring all the roads therein to be let out on Contract and viewing the great extent of the roads and the comparative small value of the taxable property in said County the roads could not be let out as required by said Act and have now almost become impassable, and as no remedy now exists by which this matter can now be amended unless by an Order of the General Commanding the 4th Military District of the United States, Therefore be it resolved that said Commanding General be requested to pass an order authorising the Board of County Police of Hancock County
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