The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-01-21
THE GENERAL BRIDGE BILL.

lUe lOIlS HC1o ldCd SOiiSAo al NJ iuSO lliiC
made it's appearance on scheduled time.
It was introduced January 18th by Sena-
tor Donigan, who is known as the father
of the bridge bill 1t is an act to provide
for State ownership and maintenance of
highways and bridges and construction
of same by State, counties and towns.
The act provides that the municipal Off
GERS of the various towns and cities shall
make an inspection and prepare list of
all the highway bridges SO feet or more
in length constructed prior to January l,
1909, Such measurements shall be ex-
elusive of approaches and said bridges,
must be part of some legally establish
ed road. Duplicate copies of these meas
urements and result of inspections shall
be filed with the county commissioners
of the respective counties and the COM
missioners of highways of the State be-
fore the first day of July, 1909.
On the first day Of July, 1909, all such
bridges shall become the property of the
State of Maine in consideration of said
State maintaining and repairing them
thereafter. All bridges under construc-
ton July l, 1909, shall, when completed
become the property of the State. The
act provides that all repairs and renewals
shall be made by the county commission
ers of the different counties under the
supervision of the State highway COM
missioner and shall be paid for by the
county treasurer thereof. The county
commissioners in the various counties
shall on the first days of January and
July Of each year render to the commls-
sioner of highways an itemlzed state
ment of all money so spent and upon ap-
proval by the commissioner, the governor
,L,n ho Sfofo
treasurer to reimburse said counties.
The act gives county commissioners same
rights in laying out highways and taking
property for the same as they heretofore
possessed but provides that damages
therefor shall be paid by the State. 1t is
provided that upon petition of ten or
more inhabitants of any town or towns
the county commissioners shall notify the
State commissioners of highways that
the construction of new bridge, so feet
or more in length, is desired at that point.
| A hearing shall be held and if said COM
missioners decide that public necessity
requires the construction OF said bridge
they will inform the State commissioner
to that effect. In the event of the State
commissioner not approving their decls-
ion the county commissioners have the
right within IA days of appeal to board
of three members Of the executive coun-
Gil to be appointed by the governor,
whose decision shall be final.
The act provides for the method of
making contracts for construction and
repair of bridges. In cases where petitions
for construction of such bridge is to be
| located in two or more counties the act
provides for joint hearing under the
! direction of the commissioners OF all
counties so interested. After that the
method Of procedure is the same as in
cases where the bridge is located IN one
county, In cases where toll bridge is
to be taken over, the county commission
ers are to fix the amount to be paid for
the same, the owners of the bridge hav-
ing a right of appeal to the Supreme
court which shall appoint commission
of three men to fix the price to be so
| the destruction of any State bridge the
commissioner of highways shall investi-
gate and authorize the county commits
soners to rebuild. The municipal Off
4 GERS of any town where State bridge is
located are created the agents of the
county commissioners to make repairs Of
sudden defects which render public travel
dangerous.
1t is further provided in the bill that
the failure of such municipal officers to
make such repairs within "a hours shall
place the liability for damages for inju-
ries received because of said defects upon
the town. The act provides for the en-
ployment of counsel to defend under the
direction of the commissioner of high
ways and that the State shall reimburse
the towns for money expended in defence
and settlement of said actions. The
word town in the meaning of the act
means cities, towns, organized planta-
lions al d bridge districts and the word
bridges as used in the act includes
bridges and causeways across tide
waters. The act provides for a mill tax
of one-half mill on dollar upon all prop
erty in the State to provide fund for
use in carrying out the provisions of the
act.