FOREST TAXATION IN THE UNITED STATES a2 
appoint superintendents of highways who are experienced in the 
construction and maintenance of improved roads, and it 1s their duty 
to supervise all work on the State and State-aid highways. In 
Wyoming all roads built jointly by the State and the counties are 
built under the immediate control and supervision of the State com- 
mission (119, p. 370). The large amount of supervision exercised by 
the State highway authorities has been inspired by the technical 
character of the work involved and has been amply justified by the 
results obtained. 
CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS 
There has been a marked development of State control and super- 
vision over local governments in the administration of charities and 
corrections. The first State board of charities was established in 
Massachusetts in 1863, followed by Ohio and New York in 1867. By 
1913 central authorities of this nature had been established in 38 
States (119, p. 298). 
In 30 States provision is made for State inspection of local institu- 
tions, and generally advice is given by the inspectors or may be had 
on application to the State authorities. The power granted to State 
authorities is sometimes broad and general and in other instances 
very specific. Thus in Massachusetts the department of public 
welfare must visit all almshouses maintained in towns, and it may 
visit and inspect other places where town paupers are supported. 
The State welfare department in Michigan must, at least once a 
year, visit and examine into the condition of all county infirmaries, 
jails, and places of detention for juveniles. When the department 
finds that such institutions are insanitary or dangerous to the life 
or health of the inmates, or constructed so as not to permit of a proper 
classification of inmates, it may require that the necessary changes 
be made. Similar control is exercised by the central agencies of 
other States. In Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and several other States, 
no new prison or almshouse can be constructed until the plans have 
been approved by the State department. In Alabama and Vermont 
the administration of jails is controlled and paid for by the State 
(119, pp. 299-300). 
PUBLIC HEALTH 
In the administration of public-health work the States have 
assumed a very large measure of control. In fact, the counties and 
cities are often little more than administrative districts. In Pennsyl- 
vania the commissioner of public health is empowered to divide the 
State into 10 districts and to appoint for each district a health officer, 
who, under the direction of the commissioner of health, has control 
of the sanitary affairs of the district and the registration of vital 
statistics. State control is almost as complete in Massachusetts and 
Maryland. The State board of health in New Jersey is empowered 
to appoint inspectors and to assign them to such duties as the interests 
of the public health in any part of the State may require. Wisconsin 
and New York also use the plan of district supervisors or inspectors. 
Some States go beyond the appointment of district supervisors and 
provide for State appointment of county health officials. State 
appointment of the county board of health or some of its members 
obtains in Kentucky, Virginia, and South Dakota, and of the county 
health officer in Wyoming and Mississippi. In Vermont the State 
