10 BULLETIN 388, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUKE. 



maintenance at the sole expense of the State, and appropriations 

 were made therefor. 



Each town is required to set apart for the permanent improvement 

 of its main highways, to be done mider the advice of the Sta^.e high- 

 way commissioner, and to which the State is to contribute aid, an 

 amount varying from $1 on each $1,000 of assessed valuation where 

 the valuation is less than $2,000,000, to 25 cents on each $1,000 of 

 assessed valuation where the valuation is $15,000,000 and upward. 

 The amount appropriated by the State for State aid is required to be 

 apportioned by the governor and council to each city, town, and 

 unincorporated town or place which has applied for State aid in 

 proportion to the amount locally set aside in accordance with the 

 above provisions. The apportionment varies according to assessed 

 valuation from $3 for each $1 so set apart, where the valuation is less 

 than $100,000, to 20 cents for each $1 so set apart, where the assessed 

 valuation is $3,000,000 and upward. Apphcations for State aid 

 each year &je required to be made on or before May 1. Money locally 

 so raised, together with the amoimt apportioned by the governor and 

 council, constitutes a joint fund for the permanent improvement of 

 such main highway in accordance with plans and specifications pre- 

 pared by the highway commissioner. Where the joint fund exceeds 

 $1,000, the work shall be done by contract. 



The boards of selectmen of the several towns have general charge 

 and supervision of all matters pertaining to roads and bridges in their 

 respective towns. Under certain conditions, a petition for laying out 

 or altering a road may be filed in the office of the clerk of the supreme 

 court and the court may refer such petitions to the county board of 

 commissioners for investigation and report. The county board of 

 commissioners has jurisdiction over roads and bridges in unincorpo- 

 rated towns and places. At the annual election each town shall elect 

 one or more, not exceeding three, highway agents, or may instruct its 

 selectmen to appoint a highway agent, who, under the direction of 

 the selectmen, shall have charge of the construction and repair of all 

 highways and bridges within the town. 



Towns may authorize the selectmen to contract for keeping their 

 highways and bridges, or any part thereof, in repair for a term of not 

 exceeding five years. Each town is made to constitute a highway 

 district, but may be divided into smaller districts in charge of a 

 surveyor of highways. 



Each town shall, at its annual meeting, raise and appropriate for 

 the repair of highways and bridges a sum not less than one-fourth 

 of 1 per cent of the valuation of the polls and ratable estate on which 

 other taxes are assessed by the towns and as much more as the town 

 may deem necessary, but no town shall be required to raise more than 

 per mile for the repair of roads and bridges. The supreme court, 



