GOVERNMENTAL WORK FOR COUNTRY LIFE 405 



lets contracts, and performs a variety of duties. Tlie 

 act providing for the construction of liigliways by 

 this department was enacted in 1919 and, up to 

 June 30, 1920, 592 miles of trunk-line road were 

 placed under construction by the State which, it 

 was estimated, would cost nearly $10,000,000. It 

 should be understood that trunk-line roads are not 

 necessarily improved, but of the 5,500 miles in Michi- 

 gan, 2,392 were improved up to the end of the fiscal 

 year of 1920. At the same time, a total of 335 miles 

 of federal-aided road had been placed under con- 

 struction, to cost $5,633,000. The State Highway 

 Department constructs bridges on State trunk-line 

 highways, and 154 of these of more than thirty-feet 

 span had been completed and G2 others had been 

 placed under construction, to cost some $2,000,000.^ 

 The State also maintains trunk-line highways and 

 requires similar action on the part of districts re- 

 ceiving State reward under penalty of a deduction 

 of the cost of maintenance from any reward moneys 

 that may accrue to such a delinquent district or of 

 having the work done directly by the State and 

 charged against the district. Many districts have 

 instituted a regular patrol system. From May 1 to 

 December 31, 1919, the State participated in the 

 maintenance of 4,878 miles of trunk-line and federal 

 aided road, at a total cost of $1,263,740, of which 

 amount the State contributed 62.1 per cent.^ 



' "Eighth Biennial Rept. of the State Highway Commis- 

 sionor." T.ansing, 1920, 7, 8. 

 Ubid., 14. 



