The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-05-13

may iOrin part Ol u TOdu, anu WHICH
might properly be built, according to
existing laws, by the township or town
ships; but shall not include causeways
or bridges which should properly be
built by a county, or adjoining coun-
ties, or by the State.
Section 10. Whore portion OF an i'm
portant main highway, traversing one
or more townships, and for the i'm
provement of which according to the
provisions of this act, application has
been made by said township or town
ships. shall lie within the limits OF any
borough or boroughs and where the
failure Of said borough or boroughs to
improve the said highway would leave
a break or unimproved section in a
continuous improved highway, 1t shall
be lawful for the county commissioners
OF the county in which said highway is
located to enter into an agreement
with said borough or boroughs to bear
a portion of the expense Of said i'm
provement of the highway within the
borough limits, in the same manner as
is herein provided for cooperation be-
tween the counties and townships; and
the State Highway Department may,
II the State Highway Commissioner so
recommends, bear portion Of the ex-
pense of said improvements Of said high
way within said borough limits. but in
no case shall the portion of said ex-
pense to be borne by the State exceed
one-third of the total expense of said
improvement, and boroughs shall only
receive aid from the State. as afore-
said in cases where failure to receive
such aid would prevent continuous
Improvement of an important main
highway, provision for the rebuilding of
which has been made in the township
or townships adjoining said borough or
boroughs. All improvements made in
borough highways, as herein provided.
shall be of a character similar to that
specified for the township or townships
through which the highway to be i'm
proved passes in reaching said borough
and boroughs, and the plans and speci-
flcations for the work shall be approx
ed by the State Highway Department;
and the completed work shall be ap-
proved by said department before any
warrant shall be issued for the States
share in such Improvement, as herein
provided. II shall be the duty of the
proper officers of said borough or bor-
oughs, charged with the maintenance
Of the streets and highways of said bor-
ough or boroughs. to keep and main
tain said improved highway within the
borough limits. in a condition to con-
form to the standard established by
the State Highway Department for the
maintenance of similar highways.
Section 20. The Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania shall not be liable to any
person or corporation for damages aris-
ing from the rebuilding or improve
ment of any highway under this act,
nor shall the State engage to keep such
highway in repair after the same shall
have been rebuilt or improved, except
to extend the aid In maintenance here
In provided. In case any person or
persons, or corporations, shall sustain
damage by any change in grade or by
the taking of land to alter the loca-
tion of any highway which may pe i'm
proved under this act, and the county
commissioner and the parties so in
jured cannot agree on the amount of
damages sustained, such persons or
corporations may present their petit
tion to the court Of quarter sessions
certain and assess such DAMAGE the
proceedings upon which said petition
and by the viewers shall be governed
by the laws relating to the assessment
of damages for opening public high
ways. and such damages, when ascer-
tanned. shall be paid by the respective
counties, and afterwards apportioned
by the Commissioner Of Highways, ac-
cording to the provisions Of section
seven.
Section 21. In addition to his other
duties, the State Highway Commits
sioner shall cause to be made and kept
for the State Highway Department a
general highway plan Of the State. anu
compile statistics and collect informa-
ton relative to the mileage character
and condition Of the highways in the
townships and counties of the State.
He shall investigate and determine
upon the various methods of road con-
struction best adapted to the various
sections of the State; and establish
standards for the construction and
maintenance of highways in the vari-
GUS sections. taking into consideration
the topography of the country the nat
ural conditions and the character and
availability of roadbuilding material,
and the ability of the townships and
counties to build and maintain roads
under the provisions of this act. He
may, at all reasonable times, be con-
suited by county, city, borough or
township officers having authority over
highways and bridges, and shall, when
requested, advise and give information
to such officers relative to the con-
struction, repairing, alteration and
maintenance OF the said highways and
bridges, He shall at all times lend
his aid In promoting improvement
throughout the State. and shall pre-
pare and disseminate useful informa-