Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-24

Of any State road designated under
Chapter 2S5, Public Laws of 1901.
Section provides that the county
commissioners shall inspect all public
bridges in their respective counties,
Ind designate by sign or number on the
bridge all bridges included in this act,
md all such bridges shall become the
property of the county where located,
nd shall be known as county and State
bridges.
The third section is as follows
When any bridge so designated re-
luires to be repaired, the county COM
missioner shall inspect the same, and
lrepair the same at the expense of the
county. When public necessity re-
luires that new bridge of the above
/ classification be constructed or any toll
bridge of the above classification now
established shall be made public
bridge, upon petition of the inhabitants
)f1the town or towns where such bridge
sylocated, they shall give the same no.
flee required to lay out, alter or dis
continue highways, and if after hear
ling the parties they decide such bridge
70 be public necessity they shall rem
/ Ter to the municipal officers of the
town or towns where such bridge
should be located shall raise by vote or
otherwise and pay to the county treas
urer of their county one-third of the
amount estimated by the county COM
nissioners to build or purchase such
bridge, the commissioners shall at the
Expense of the, county, build such new
bridge of the above classification, or
purchase any private bridge or toll
bridge for the public benefit"
The bill further provides that the
county commissioners shall have the
;ame rights to take land for the pur-
pose of locating new bridge or TO
lake any private bridge for public use,
they now have in laying out, alter
ng, or disseminating highways, and
hall proceed in the same manner. All
4 ,arties aggrieved thereby shall have
1 he same rights and remedies rs now
Il jrovided for damages in laying out, al
ering, or disseminating highways also
hat the county commissioners shall
I nake list of all iron. steel, cement, or
/ tone bridges of this classification,
found in good condition in their coun-
les, and fix value upon the same, de-
;ucting therefrom any aid received from
ne State in the original construction
If such bridge, and file the list with the
county treasurer. The county treas
hrer shall allow the town where such
bridges are located discount upon its
,ounty tax, of 10 per cent Such dis
9unts shall be allowed from year to
ear until the discounts of any given
own shall equal two-thirds of the re-
jorded value of said irons, STEEL con-
Section of the bill provides that
he municipal officers of any town
where a county or state bridge is locat
ID shall act as agents to the county
commissioners in repairing any sudden
lefect, dangerous to public travel, and
hall Immediately send the county
commissioners notice of such defect
with statement of their expenses
which shall be paid by the county. if
he commissioners on inspection, find
,uch expenses not excessive. If after
twenty -four hours actual notice the
municipal officers neglect to repair any
sudden defect in a county and state
bridge, the town where such bridge is
coated shall be liable for all damages
FOR injuries to persons and property
causes by such defect.
The seventh section provides for the
State to reimburse the counties for
one-half Of the expenses incurred, as
follows:
The county commissioners shall es-
Innate the amount to be expended in
their several counties under this act,
md the same shall be assessed upon
the county as other county expenses.
They shall annually render to the Gov
ernor and Council an account of all
money expended under this act de-
Quoting therefrom amount received
from any towns. The Governor and
Council shall authorize the State treas
urer to reimburse each county one-half
of all money so expended, unless the
Governor and Council should find such
expenditures exorbitant and excessive,
then they shall order reimbursement
one-half of such part as are reason
able"
During the past two years the State as
| SCISSORS, acting under direction of the
Legislature of 1901 have been engaged in
securing Information concerning all
| bridges in the State of more than 50 feet
| in length. Yesterday, the assessors sent
| to the Senate the tabulations made by
them as the result of their inquiries sent
| to the various local assessors throughout
| the State.
The tabulations give the number of such
| bridges by towns and counties, a recapit-
ulatiCn of which follows:
Wood
Wood and
Wood. Iron. IRON ron crete.