The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-05-20

disposal permit of so doing, contract
jointly with the county and township
or townships in which said highway
lies, to carry out the recommendations
of the State Highway Commissioner;
the cost Of the same, including all the
necessary surveys, grading, material,
construction, relocation, changes of
grade, and expenses in connection with
the improvement of said highway to
be borne in sixty-six and two-thirds
per centum by the State, sixteen and
two-thirds per centum by the county,
and sixteen and two-thirds per centum
by the township or townships in which
the portions of said highway, improved
as herein provided, may lie: Provided,
That the State aid shall be apportion-
ed among the several counties of the
Commonwealth according to the mile
age of township or county roads in
each county, but the said amount shall
remain in the State Treasury until ap-
piled for under the provisions OF this
act; And provided, That any county
constructing county roads under the
provisions of the act of June twenty
sixth, one thousand eight hundred and
ninety-fve pamphlet law, three hun
dred and thirty-six), and supplements
and amendments thereto, shall be en-
titled to receive the same amount OF
| State aid as if said roads were con-
structed under the provisions of this
act And provided further, That II the
appropriation, so apportioned by the
State, shall not be so applied for a
period of two years after 1t has become
available, the amount so apportioned
and set aside for that county shall
be returned to the State Treasury, and
added to the appropriation for the cur
rent year, and distributed anew under
the provisions of this act: And pro-
vided further That nothing herein con-
tanned shall prevent any county and
townships from agreeing to appropr1-
ate larger amount for such road i'm
provement than the amounts specified
| in this act: And provided, That coun-
ties and townships may agree among
themselves to contribute their COM
bined proportion of the thirty-tnree
and one-third per centum of the total
expense of construction, herein pro-
vided to be borne by them, in different
proportions from that hereinabove spe-
Gifted; but in no case shall any town.
ship or county pay less than five per
centum of the entire expense OF such
improvements: Provided, That the
county commissioners shall furnish,
under oath, to the State Highway Com
missioner the total number of miles
of township or county public roads, by
townships, to the State Highway Com
missioner.
Section 4. All highways improved un-
der the provisions of this act shall
conform to the standard of construc-
ton established by the State High
way Department, as best adapted to
the locality in which they may be To-
Gated, with due regard to the topo-
graphy and natural conditions and the
availability of bodybuilding materials,
and shall be constructed according to
the best engineering practice. No Sec
ton of highway improved under this
act shall be less than one-fourth mile
in length, nor shall the improved por-
ton thereof be less than twelve feet
in width. So far as is consistent with
the just and equitable administration
of this act, the State Highway Depart
ment shall encourage a general system
of highway improvement.
Section 5. Ali work done under the
provisions of this act shall be by con-
tract, according to plans and specifica-
tions to be prepared by the State High
way Commissioner and approved by
the county commissioners of the coun-
ty and the supervisors or commission
ers of the township or townships, as
hereinbefore provided; and in award
ing said contracts the work shall be
given to the lowest and best bidder,
with the option upon the part of the
State Highway Commissioner, the
county commissioners, or the township
supervisors or commissioners, to reject
any or all bids if they consider the
same unreasonable, or if the prices
named are materially higher than the
vided for. Every person, firm or cor
poration, before being awarded any
contract for the construction or i'm
provement of any highway under the
provisions of this act, shall furnish a
bond, acceptable to the State High
way Commissioner, in sum equal to
the contract price of the work, condi-
toned upon the satisfactory compile
ton of the same and to save harmless
the State, county and the township or
townships, in which the work may lie,
from any expense incurred through the
failure of said contractor TO complete
the work as specified, or for any dam
ages growing out of the carelessness
of said contractor or his or its SER
wants.
Section 6. Any township may, through
its supervisors or commissioners, be
authorized to bid for the construction
of such portion of any highway i'm
provement, undertaken under the pro-
visions of this act, as may lie within
it's limits; and any township submit
ting such bid shall have the same con-
sideration as other bidders, and, II
awarded the contract, shall fulfill the
same and be subject to the same regu-
lations as are laid down for other bid
ders.
Section Z. Upon the completion OF
any highway, rebuilt or improved I'M
der the provisions of this act, the
State Highway Commissioner shall inn