ROAD MILEAGE AND REVENUES IN NEW ENGLAND STATES. 17 
petition, the towns making no contribution; 5 per cent in towns of 
less than $1,000,000 valuation upon petition, the town contributing 
an equal amount; and 5 per cent in towns of more than $1,000,000 
valuation upon petition, the town contributing an equal amount. 
These roads remain town ways, and the towns are responsible for 
their maintenance and for any accident which may happen thereon. 
The commission has authority, however, to repair such roads and to 
charge back to the towns in which they are located the cost of the 
repairs, not to exceed $50 a mile a year. 
EXPENDITURES FOR STATE HIGHWAYS AND SMALL TOWN ROADS. 
From the time improvement of highways was started under the 
highway commission up to November 30, 1915, the Commonwealth 
has expended $12,167,800 in the construction of State highways and 
work under the small-town act, including the planting of trees. There 
were 1,039 miles of State highway November 30, 1914, and 1,101 
miles April, 1916, located in 329 cities and towns. About 482 miles 
of road have been improved under the small-town act, and 265 miles 
under the motor-vehicle fees fund act. 
REVENUES APPLIED TO ROADS. 
In 1914 the towns expended $3,839,094.23 for highway construction 
and maintenance. The State highway commission expended for 
repair, maintenance, and construction of highways in towns, exclusive 
of the cost of administration of the State automobile department, 
$2,252,781.07, making a total of $6,091,875.30. The appropriations 
by towns comprised the following items: for highway construction, 
$1,295,198.40; highway repairs, $2,182,104.25; for bridge construc- 
tion, $135,983.05; bridge repairs, $61,182.77; amount paid State 
for State highways covering towns' share of cost, $126,759.43 ; amount 
paid by towns to counties for county highways, $37,866.33. The 
expenditures by the State highway commission for State highways in 
towns and exclusive of cities comprised the following items : for con- 
struction, $878,235.16; for construction under small-town act, 
$114,689.61; for road repair and maintenance, $314,489.41; for 
repair and maintenance of town and county ways under motor- 
vehicle fees fund, $167,614.74; repair and maintenance of State high- 
ways under motor-vehicle fees fund, $426,299.30; for general expenses 
of the highway commission, $71,322.37; expenditures under special 
acts, $280,130.48. 
The State highway commission also spent in 1914, for construction, 
repair, and maintenance in cities, $212,837.76, and the cities them- 
selves spent a total of $6,693,206.83, making a grand total for high- 
ways and city streets of $12,997,919.89. 
61725°— Bull. 388—17 2 
