10 BULLETIN" 388, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
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 under 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. Applications for State aid 
each year are required to be made on or before May 1. Money locally 
so raised, together with the amount 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 
$50 per mile for the repair of roads and bridges. The supreme court, 
