446 MISC. PUBLICATION 218, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
are closely related to those of the National Government. A rough 
idea of the relationship may be obtained by outlining the existing 
method of supporting the more important governmental functions. 
ScHOOLS 
Schools are supported chiefly by the National Government and by 
the communes, with some assistance from the Departments. The 
teachers are generally paid by the Nationa! Government. The school 
buildings, lodgings for teachers, furniture, and the like, are furnished 
by the communes for the primary schools and by the Departments 
for the normal schools. Secondary schools in the larger towns are 
supported by the National Government. 
Roapbs 
Roads are supported by the National Government, the Depart- 
ments, and the communes, but chiefly by the first two. The national 
highways (routes nationales) are supported by the National Govern- 
ment. The regional highways (chemins des grandes communications 
et routes departementaux) are supported by Departments. Local 
roads (chemins vicinaux) are supported by the communes, but they 
receive substantial subventions for this purpose from the Depart- 
ments. The National Gevernment also gives subventions for road 
purposes to the Departments and communes. For the rest, the com- 
munes obtain the necessary funds themselves from their own taxes, 
namely, the taxe vicinale and the taxe des prestations. 
. RAILROADS 
The main railroad systems are supported by the National Govern- 
ment. One railroad system is Government owned; the others are all 
privately owned but revert to the Gov ernment eventually. The 
Departments own small local railways and tramways. Some of the 
communes also own tramways. There are, in addition, some depart- 
mental and communal autobus lines. 
OTHER DEPARTMENTAL FUNCTIONS 
The Departments are also concerned with relief of the poor and the 
sick, child welfare and protection, care of pregnant women and old 
people, free medical assistance in hospitals, and care of the insane. 
They also have charge of the prisons, the police, and the courts; 
they furnish buildings for the police. 
OTHER COMMUNAL FUNCTIONS 
Poor relief and other charity services are furnished also by the com- 
munes, although the chief expense is borne by the Departments, 
assisted by the National Government. (A project is now being con- 
sidered to relieve the communes of all this expense.) The communes 
have no police or prisons or courts, except in the large cities and towns, 
and here part of this expense is borne by the cities and part by the 
National Government. All other strictly local services are rendered 
by the communes. 
Soci Fa 
