222 BOABD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



in thinly populated communities, which find the burden of 

 keeping their roads in proper repair quite too heavy to bear. 



The commission constructs and maintains only that por- 

 tion of the State highway which lies between the lines of 

 the sidewalks nearest to the centre of the way. The side- 

 walks, as I understand it, are to be constructed and cared 

 for by the munici})al authorities. 



The title of the Commonwealth to lands taken for a State 

 road is very strongly fixed by the 20th section of the 

 chapter which provides that no li'ngth of possession or 

 occupancy of the land within the limits of a State highway 

 by the owner or occupant of the adjoining land shall give 

 him any title thereto ; and any fence, buildings or other 

 obstructions which encroach upon the highway must be 

 removed forthwith by the owner upon written notice from 

 the commission, and in default of such removal the commis- 

 sioners themselves may remove them and place them upon 

 the adjoining land. 



No State highwaj^ can be dug uj) for laying or placing 

 pipes, sewers, poles, wires or railways or for any other 

 purpose, and no tree is to be planted or removed or ob- 

 struction placed on the road, without the written permit of 

 the commission and in accordance with its regulations ; and 

 any such work so done must be carried on under the super- 

 vision and to the satisfaction of the commission, and the 

 entire expense must be borne by the parties having the 

 authority to disturb the street. The commission are re- 

 quired to give suitable names to the State highwa3^s, and 

 ma}^ change the name of any street or road which becomes 

 a part of the State highway. The erection of suitable 

 guide-posts along the road is enjoined, and drinking foun- 

 tains may be established. 



It will be noticed that many of these provisions have 

 been derived from pre-existing laws ; but the effect of thus 

 bringing these topics prominently before the people in the 

 highway act must have a salutary educational influence, in 

 impressing them with a more thorough knowledge of the 

 rights and duties pertaining to the citizen in connection with 

 his use of the public highway. 



