EOAD MILEAGE, CENTRAL AND WESTERN STATES. 33 



the State are thereafter known and designated as State roads, and surveys, plans, 

 specifications, and estimates for all work on such roads in the respective counties 

 are required to be made by the board of county commissioners, in accordance with 

 rules and regulations prescribed by the State highway commission and subject to 

 approval by the commission. 



Contracts for work on State roads are let by the board of county commissioners, 

 and the work is done under the direction of that board through a competent engineer 

 employed by it and subject to supervision and approval by the State highway com- 

 mission. The county commissioners report each year to the State highway commis- 

 sion all expenditures on State and county roads and recommend roads for improve- 

 ment in the succeeding year. The State highway commission makes a biennial 

 report to the governor. 



There is a State highway fund from which is deducted each year the sum deemed 

 necessary for the support of the State highway commission, and the balance is appor- 

 tioned by the commission among the several counties, taking into account the area 

 of each county, the amount expended on its roads, and the extraordinary expenses 

 incident to developing new territory, but none of the fund is expended in the cor- 

 porate limits of any city or town or in any county which does not provide an equal 

 amount. The net proceeds from the licensing and registering of motor vehicles are 

 applied to the State highway fund. 



Boards of commissioners of the several counties have general supervision over the 

 highways and must keep the county divided into suitable road districts and appoint 

 a competent road supervisor for each district. The board also may employ a com- 

 petent road builder for the county. 



The boards of county commissioners may levy in their respective counties a special 

 tax of not to exceed 2 mills on the dollar of all taxable property therein for the piu-pose 

 of constructing, maintaining, and repairing free public bridges. The boards also 

 levy annually in each county a general tax of not less than 2 or more than 5 mills on 

 the dollar of all taxable property. In addition a general road poll tax of $2 per annum 

 is levied on each male over 21 years and under 60. All moneys derived from each 

 of the above taxes are credited to the general road fund of the county. Neither of 

 the above taxes applies in an incorporated city or town which levies like taxes for 

 its roads, streets, and alleys. 



The county board of commissioners may issue bonds of the county for the construc- 

 tion of highways and bridges in an amount not to exceed, including existing indebt- 

 edness, 5 per cent of the value of all taxable property in the county; but no county 

 shall incur indebtedness in excess of $10,000 for any single purpose unless authorized 

 by a majority of the electors voting in an election thereon. Of the forest reserve 

 moneys received by the State from the United States, 66f per cent is apportioned to 

 the counties entitled to share in the apportionment of the fund in proportion to the 

 acreage of forest reserves in each such county. The amount so apportioned is appHed 

 to the general road fund of the county. 



Provision is made for the working of county prisoners upon the highways. 



ROAD MILEAGE. 



At the close of 1914, Montana had 39,204 miles of pubUc road, of which 609.25 

 miles, or 1.55 per cent were surfaced as follows: Macadam, 78 miles, gravel 514.25, sand- 

 clay 14, and shale 3. There were reported also 6,528.05 miles of graded and drained 

 earth road. At the close of 1909 the State had 23,319 miles of road, of which 95 miles 

 were surfaced, a gain for the 5-year period of 514.25 miles. The mileage data for 1914 

 is shown in Table 18. 



72690°— Bull. 389—17 3 



