BOAD MILEAGE AND REVENUES IN NEW ENGLAND STATES. 7 
of three members appointed by the governor with the advice and 
consent of the council. A chief engineer, who is required to be a 
civil engineer having experience in and knowledge of highway con- 
struction, is appointed by the commission with the approval of the 
governor and council. The chief engineer, under the direction and 
control of the commission, has general charge of all construction and 
maintenance work to which financial aid is extended by the State, 
and may, with the approval of the commission, employ necessary 
engineering and clerical assistance. State highways are constructed 
at the expense of the State from the proceeds of a bond issue of 
$2,000,000, authorized by the legislature of 1913. State-aid high- 
ways are constructed at the joint expense of the State and town. 
The amount of State aid apportioned to each town depends on the 
amount raised by the town, and is also limited by the valuation of 
the town. 
State and State-aid highways are maintained at the joint expense of 
the State and town. The amount appropriated depends on the mileage 
and a rate per mile for State and State-aid highways as determined 
by the State highway law. Up to 1913 there was no systematic 
method for maintaining State and State-aid highways. A department 
of maintenance was organized by the State highway commission in 
1913, which now looks after the maintenance of these roads. An effort 
will be made to increase the scope of this department so as to include 
a part of the town roads under its supervision at the joint expense 
of the State and town. 
Maine now appropriates $300,000 annually for the construction of 
State-aid roads and $50,000 for the administration of the office of 
the State highway commission. Any surplus from the latter amount 
may be used for maintenance. The revenue received from the 
licensing and registration of automobiles is used to take care of the 
bond issue of $2,000,000, and any surplus not needed for this purpose 
may be used for maintenance. 
In this State the town is the governmental unit in the local admin- 
istration of road and bridge construction and maintenance. Appro- 
priations for roads and bridges are made by vote of the people at 
each annual town meeting. These appropriations are expended 
under the general direction of a board of selectmen, consisting of 
three members, and under the immediate direction of a road commis- 
sioner appointed by the selectmen. The labor tax has been abolished. 
REVENUES APPLIED TO ROADS AND BRD3GES. 
The total revenue applied to roads and bridges in 1914 amounted 
to $2,642,006.79. Of this amount $978,786.57 was expended by the 
towns on town roads and bridges, and $1,663,220.22 was expended 
by the State highway commission from State aid, automobile funds, 
