ROAD MILEAGE AND EEVENUES IN NEW ENGLAND STATES. 7 



of three members appointed by the governor with the advice and 

 consent of the council. A chief engineer, who is required to be a 

 civil engineer having experience in and knowledge of highway con- 

 struction, is appomted by the commission with the approval of the 

 governor and council. The chief engineer, under the direction and 

 control of the commission, has general charge of all construction and 

 maintenance work to which financial aid is extended by the State, 

 and may, with the approval of the commission, employ necessary 

 engineering and clerical assistance. State highways are constructed 

 at the expense of the State from the proceeds of a bond issue of 

 $2,000,000, authorized by the legislature of 1913. State-aid high- 

 ways are constructed at the joint expense of the State and town. 

 The amount of State aid apportioned to each town depends on the 

 amount raised by the town, and is also limited by the valuation of 

 the town. 



State and State-aid highways are maintained at the joint expense of 

 the State and town. The amount appropriated depends on the mileage 

 and a rate per mile for State and State-aid highways as determined 

 by the State highway law. Up to 1913 there was no systematic 

 method for maintaining State and State-aid highways. A department 

 of maintenance was organized by the State highway commission in 

 1913, which now looks after the maintenance of these roads. An effort 

 will be made to increase the scope of this department so as to include 

 a part of the town roads under its supervision at the joint expense 

 of the State and town. 



Maine now appropriates $300,000 annually for the construction of 

 State-aid roads and $50,000 for the adm.inistration of the office of 

 the State highway commission. Any surplus from the latter amount 

 may be used for maintenance. The revenue received from the 

 licensing and registration of automobiles is used to take care of the 

 bond issue of $2,000,000, and any surplus not needed for this purpose 

 may be used for maintenance. 



In this State the town is the governmental unit in the local admin- 

 istration of road and bridge construction and maintenance. Appro- 

 priations for roads and bridges are made by vote of the people at 

 each annual town meeting. These appropriations are expended 

 under the general direction of a board of selectmen, consisting of 

 three members, and under the immediate direction of a road commis- 

 sioner appointed by the selectmen. The labor tax has been aboMshed. 



REVENUES APPLIED TO ROADS AND BRIDGES. 



The total revenue applied to roads and bridges in 1914 amoimted 

 to $2,642,006.79. Of this amount $978,786.57 was expended by the 

 towns on town roads and bridges, and $1,663,220.22 was expended 

 by the State highway commission from State aid, automobile fluids, 



