Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-08

IT has transpircd that tho office of
highway commissioner, which was
created at the recent session Of the
Legislature. is not a na.v one. by any
means. although i'm It's original form the
authority Of the office was vested in a
board instead of an Individual. State
Librarian Carver who is preparing an
indcx Of the resolves of Maine. from
the time that it became "A State. in 1920
Ut to the present time. finds that the
first highway commission was esta blish-
ed in 1894. and was composed of Gov
Robert L. Runlap Of Brunswick. and
Land Agent John Hodsdon of Bangor
who served. according to the provisions
of resolve which vas approved on
Feb. rs of that year. until a board Of
three commissioners vas appointed. to
bo known as board of Internal i'm
pr"vcmnnts." As the text Of the resolve
which constitutes Chap n 2S. will he Of
interest in comparison with the present
law. which is Chapter las Of the laws
of 1905. the text Is given below:
Resolved, that the governor and land
agent of this state for the time being
and the commissioners to appointed as
hereinafter provided. be and are here
by constituted n Board Of Internal Inn
provcment for the state of Maine for
the purposes and with the powers here
matter named. The Governor, with tn,
advice and Conscnt Of the Council shall
appoint three men of Intelligence. in
teCrity and sound judgement for COM
m'$sioncrs aforesaid. tn be selected
from different sections Ct the State. as
follows: One from The Western, one
from the middle. and ono from the
Eastern section Of the State.
The commissioners shall be appointed
to hold their officers for two years. sub
ject to he removed at the pleasure of
the Governor and Council, and each
commissioner shall receive as Cnmpen-
sation. in full for his services and ex-
pcnscs, the sum of four dollars per day
each day he is ngaged. No single COM
missioner. however. shall receive n
larger sum than $500 for his services for
one year; nor shall any person during
the term for which he was appointed.
he engaged. directly Or indirectly. in
purchasing wild lands or timber. 1t
shall be the duty of sad commission
| ers. or such Of them as by A vote of
| the board shall be authorized. to ex-
| plore and examine the great water
courses Of the state, and also different
parts of the State where it may be
supposed that canals. roads, railroads
or other important internal improve
mcnts may be made for the benefit Of
the state. And for this purpose tn.
| board shall be authorized to employ a
| civil engineer and necessary assistants.
IT shall be the duty of the commits
siOners to make report Of their dOings.
| with plans Of the surveys they have
mad together with estimates Of the
| cost of the improvements they recon-
lmcnd. at the commencement of each
session Of the Legislature. Provided.
however. that the Governor and land
agent shall not be required to act on
any exploring committee. nor receive
any compensation for their services. No
IappIication to the State for any pecun-
Iiary aid shall hereafter be sustained by
the LEGISLATURE, for a canal. road, rail-
road. or other internal improvement,
until the subject shall have been ex-
amined by the board of internal i'm
provements. and that board has report
ed to the Legislature thereon, stating
the advantage or necessity Of such
work. and the probable amount it will
cost to execute it.
| The board shall have power to en-
pIoy a secretary and ADOPT such rules
and regulations, not repugnant to the
laws of the State, as are necessary and