22 BULLETIN 386, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTTJEE. 



of highways in such units. These State-aid highways are maintained 

 by the State highway department, and 50 per cent of the cost of such 

 maintenance is repaid by the townships or counties in which the roads 

 are situated. 



In 1911, $3,000,000 was appropriated under the Sproul Act for the 

 maintenance, repair, and construction of State highways, and for the 

 State's share of maintenance of State-aid highways. One milhon 

 dollars was appropriated for the improvement of roads designated as 

 State-aid highways. 



The legislature of 1915 appropriated $8,300,000 to the State high- 

 way department for the two years ending June 1, 1917. Of this 

 appropriation $6,000,000 is for the construction and maintenance of 

 State highways; $250,000 is for the purchase or condemnation of 

 turnpikes which are included in the State highway system; $500,000 

 is for the State's share in the construction and maintenance of State- 

 aid highways; $50,000 is for the repair and maintenance of the Old 

 Cumberland Road, and $1,500,000 is to cover a portion of the defi- 

 ciency on the repayment of a cash-tax bonus to the townships for 

 previous years. This repayment of the cash-tax bonus is a function 

 of the bureau of township highways. The State highway depart- 

 ment's care of this fund is merely custodial. Previously, money 

 derived from motor-vehicle licenses had been given to the State 

 highway department, in addition to the money appropriated by the 

 legislature; but in the latter act of the legislature the following 

 proviso is found : 



Provided, That the appropriation made by this act shall include and not be in addi- 

 tion to the amounts received by the Commonwealth during the two fiscal years begin- 

 ning June 1, 1915, for the licensing of motor vehicles and drivers, under the act of 

 July 7, 1913. 



Therefore, the money derived from motor-vehicle Hcenses is included 

 in the appropriation of $8,300,000, and is not in addition thereto. 



In 1913 a bureau of township highways was established in the 

 highway department, under supervision of one of the deputies, and 

 has general supei v^ision over aU township and highway bridges on 

 which State-aid money has been expended. The bureau also has 

 charge of the administration of township highways through the various 

 division engineers. The township supervisors report annually to the 

 bureau of township highways relative to the number of miles of town- 

 ship roads and the money derived for road purposes through taxation. 

 The bureau then grants each township 50 per cent of the total amount 

 of road tax collected in the township, provided that no township 

 shall receive in any one year to exceed $20 per mile of to-\viiship road. 

 Work done in the townships under this law is in accordance with 

 regulations prescribed by the State highway department. 



