Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Vancouver Island Road Tax Commissioner records
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- textual record
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- Source of title proper: Title based on contents of series.
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Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1861-1875 (Creation)
- Creator
- Vancouver Island (Colony). Road Commissioners
Physical description area
Physical description
25 cm of textual records
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Biographical history
The Road Act, 1860 established several road districts in the Colony of Vancouver Island. Each road district was managed by several Road Commissioners appointed by the Governor. The commissioners were responsible for ensuring adequate roads were constructed and maintained in their districts. Each district’s Road Commission was headed by a Chairman who also acted as Treasurer. Fines and taxes may be collected by the Commissioners and used for road construction expenses. Financial records were to be supplied to the Colonial Secretary every June.
The initial districts included: Esquimalt Road District (consisting of Metchosin, Sooke and Esquimalt land districts),Esquimalt Town Road District, Victoria Road District (consisting of the Victoria, Lake and Saanich land districts), Cowichan Road District, Chemainus Road District and Nanaimo Road District. New districts were to be established once 24 landholders settled in an area. Each landholder was required to spend several days of labour a year (or provide a labourer as their replacement) on road improvement.
Custodial history
Scope and content
This series consists of records created by Road Commissioners from various road districts in the Colony of Vancouver Island, from 1861-1875. This includes the Victoria, Esquimalt, Esquimalt Town, Lake, Saanich, Metchosin, Sooke and Highlands Road Districts.
The records include financial records such as cash books, account books, road tax assessment rolls and ledgers. These track the fines and taxes collected for each district, and the expenses for road construction and maintenance. Some records indicate the individuals who paid for and worked on specific roads in the Victoria area that are still in existence today.
Other records include correspondence and minute books recording the decisions and priorities of the commissioners. These indicate where and how roads were constructed as the colony was growing.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
These records were accessioned in 1981.
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There are no access restrictions.
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General note
Accession number(s): G81-007