STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEMS 193 



a majority of the property owners facing the road to be improved 

 or by the township and is in the form of a petition to the board of 

 supervisors. If the petition is from the abutting property owners, 

 the board must apply to the state engineer for aid in the improve- 

 ment. Petitions from townships are not mandatory on the board 

 of supervisors. The application to the state engineer must desig- 

 nate and describe the road to be improved and give its length. The 

 state engineer then examines the road and if he considers it of suf- 

 ficient importance to warrant state aid, he orders a survey, together 

 with plans and estimates of the cost of the improvement. These 

 are then submitted by him to the board of supervisors, and if ap- 

 proved by the board, the contract is let and the road constructed 

 under the supervision of the state engineer. 



Fifty per cent, of the cost of the improvement is paid by the 

 state, thirty-five per cent, by the county, and fifteen per cent, by 

 the town, or if the property owners have petitioned, by those whose 

 lands are benefited. When completed the road must be kept in repair 

 by the town. 



The state engineer is required to collect statistics and informa- 

 tion concerning roads and advise with local oflficers and persons in- 

 terested in road improvement. He must hold at least one public 

 meeting annually in each county in the interest of good roads. <') 



Since the passage of the law the state appropriations in aid of 

 highways have been as follows: 1898, |50,000; 1899, $50,000; 

 1900, 1150,000 ; 1901, |420,000. 



Maine. 



In this state there is no state commissioner of highways, but 

 state aid is given to towns constructing improved roads. On the 

 request of the municipal officers of any town, the county commission- 

 ers designate some road as a main thoroughfare, and the road thus 

 designated becomes a state road. 



The town builds the road and the work is inspected and ap- 

 proved by the county commissioners. The commissioners certify to 



(1) N. Y.. '98. Chap. 115, 



