davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-25
AMENDED, RELATING TO THE
APPROPRIATION FOR THE PER-
MANENT IMPROVEMENT OF
HIGHWAYS.


1t is hereby enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Section I. Section 4ooo of the Public
Statutes as amended by section 8 of No.
Io7 of the acts of 1908 as amended by
section of No. 1s7 of the acts of 1910
as amended by section of No. las Of
the acts of 1912 (Secs. 44oS and AGO
of the General Laws, as proposcd) is
hereby amended so as to read as fol-
lows:
Sec. 4ooo. (Sec. 44oS G. 1..) The
amount appropriated for the permanent
Improvement of highways in accordance
with the provisions of this chapter shall
be available to towns as follows:
When town, at its annual meeting or
at special meeting duly warned, votes
to raise money in excess of the amount
required by law to be raised for high
ways, to take advantage of the pro-
visions of this section, and the town
clerk of such town notifies the state
highway commissioner of such action,
giving the amount of money so voted,
on or before the first day of April in any
year, said commissioner shall apportion
to such town from such appropriation, a
sum equal to the amount so voted by the
town, provided that the amount so voted
lis in no case less than one hundred
dollars and provided that no more than
one thousand dollars shall be apportioned
to any ono town in any one year. If
there are incorporated villages in town,
and the town when it votes to take ad-
vantage of the provisions of this Sec
ton, votes to apportion the money to be
apportioncd by said commissioner, be-
tween the villages and the town, it may
be apportioned on the same basis as the
town highway tax is apportioned, but
the amount apportioned to the incor-
porated villages in any town shall not
exceed fifty per cent of the fund avail
able for that town.
(Sec. 44oo G. L. The surplus of such
appropriation may be used as follows:
A sum not exceeding thirty thousand
dollars in any one year, may, with the
approval of the governor, be expended
by said commissioner to aid towns and
cores in rebuilding new roads or rclo-
eating old roads. Said commissioner
may make special terms with towns for
the expenditure of part or all of such
surplus upon such portions of the state
roads as are of special public importance,
and to provide suitable markers at town
lines on the principal state roads; and
said commissioner may also use s,fch STIFF
plus in renting or purchasing tools, i'm
plements or machinery, and may employ
such assistance and incur such expense,
as may be necessary in carrying out the
provisions of this chapter.
Approved April II, 1917.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-25
NO. 11s.
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR WARN
ING SIGNS AT DRAWBRIDGES.

1t is hereby enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Section I. The selectmen of a town
owning or controlling drawbridge, or
the state highway commissioner where
such bridge is owned or controlled by
the state, shall, on or before August
I, 1917, erect FIVE hundred feet from
such drawbridge in each direction signs
three feet in length and two feet in
width having the words Five Hundred
Feet to Drawbridge" conspicuously
painted thereon; provided, however,
that where the erection of such signs is
impracticable at a distance of five hun
dred feet from a drawbridge, they shall
be erected at such distance from such
bridge as the selectmen or state high
way commissioner decide will best pro-
mote the safety of the public.
Sec. 2. The state highway commits
sioner is hereby directed to procure a
sufficient number of signs for the use Of
the several towns affected by this act,
and he shall furnish such signs to such
towns at cost or Upon such terms as
may be agreed upon by said highway
commissioner and the selectmen of such
towns. Said commissioner may expend
for the purposes of this act any part
of the surplus provided for in section
4ooo of the Public Statutes and amend
rnents thereto (Secs. 44o7, 44o8 and 449o
of the General Laws, as proposed).
Sec. 3. Any person who unlawfully
removes, Injuries or defaces any such
sign shall be fined not more than ten
dollars for the use of the town placing
or maintaining such sign.
Sec. A. This act shall take effect
from its passage.
Approved March Il, 1917.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-25
NO. 100.

AN ACT RELATING TO VEHICLES
ON WHEELS CARRYING LIGHTS
AT NIGHT ON PUBLIC HIGH
WAYS.
1t is hereby enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Section 1. Every vehicle on wheels,
whether stationary or in motion on a
public highway, shall have attached to it
a light which shall be so displayed as
to be visible from the front and rear
during the period from forty-fve min
utes after sunset to forty-hve minutes
before sunrise; provided, however, that
this act shall not apply to vehicle which
is designed to be propelled by hand or
to any vehicle designed for the trans
portation of hay, straw, wood, lumber,
stone, machinery or other heavy freight,
nor to farm machinery.
Sec. 2. Nothing contained in this act
shall be construed to effect the pro-
visions of any existing statute, rule or
regulation requiring lighted lamps on
motor vehicles and the obligations of
owners, operators or occupants thereof.
Sec. 5. The driver or custodian of a
vehicle shall be deemed the responsible
party, liable to the penalty provided for
violations of this act
Sec. 4 A person who violates the
provisions of this act shall be fined not
more than five dollars.
Sec. S. This act shall take effect May
I, 1917.
Approved March 4, 1917.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-25
motor truck or other vehicle is to be

motor truck or other vehicle is to be
operated.
A person or corporation that Appeals
from the board of selcctmen or trus-
tees of an incorporated village to the
board of county road commissioners shall
give said commissioners security by de-
post or otherwise for the cost of pro-
cecdings under such appeal. In case after
due hearing by said board, the board de-
cides to grant the permit, the costs shall
be paid by the town or village as the
case may be, but il the issuance of the
permit is refused, the costs shall be
paid by the person or corporation that
took the appeal. Costs shall be taxed
and allowed in all respects as is pro-
vided in case of suits returnable to a
Justices court.
Sec. 6. The fee for registering a trac-
ton engine, motor truck or other vehicle
having combined weight Of traction en-
CINE, motor truck or other vehicle, in
Guiding the weight of its carrying capac-
ity and the weight and carrying ca
pacity of trailers or other contrivances
and load, of three tons or less shall be
the same as provided in section 4o77 of
the Public Statutes as amended by No.
|oo of the acts of 1908 and No. 131 of the
acts of 1910, and in case said weight
exceeds three tons, the registration fee
shall be fee equal to the fee provided
in section 4o77 of the Public Statutes,
as amended by No. 90 of the acts OF
! 1908 and No. 1871 Of the acts of 1910,
plus ten per cent for each ton or frac-
ton thereof in excess of said three tons.
The owner of traction engine, motor
truck or other vehicle shall, at the time
of transmitting his application for regis
tration to the secretary of state, cause
to be attached to such application copy
of the permit issued by the board OF
selectmen, board of trustees or board OF
county road commissioners as the case
may be.
Sec. ?. This act shall take effect
from its passage and shall be considered
part of chapter I76 of the Public Stat
utes and amendments thereto.
Approved April 7, 1917.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-25
NO. 125.

AN ACT TO AMEND AN ACT OF
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
1917. ENTITLED IAN ACT TO
AMEND SECTION 1904 OF THE
PUBLIC STATUTES As AMEND
Ed BY SECTION OF NO. OF OF
THE ACTS OF 1908 RELATING
TO HIGHWAYS. CREATING
COUNTY SUPERVISORS OF
HIGH WAY.S,' APPROVED
MARCH 2, 1917.
1t is hereby enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Section !. An act of the General
Assembly Of 1917, entitled IAN act to
amend section 1904 of the Public Stat
utes as amended by section I of No. o.
of the acts of 1908 relating to highways,
creating county supervisors Of high
ways" approved March 2, 1917, is here
by amended BY adding thereto a new
section to read Is follows:
Sec. 2. This act shall take effect
Sec .. hi: act shall take efee.
from its passage.
Approved April =. 1917.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-25
NO. 129.

&C or THE H PuBLTc oh SSTrAiTf T ffSs
CHANG1NG THE WEiCHT
Which, A WAGON OK CAR
RAGE MAY CARRY ON THE
PUBL!C HIGHWAYS, AND TO
A AIlby y S S;S J, &c n 4oss Of THE
ING THE PENALTY FOR A VIO-
LATION OF SECTION 4o57.
1t is hereby enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Section I. Section 4os7 of the Public
Statutes (Sec 4s47 of the General Laws,
as proposed) is hereby amended so as
to read as follows:
Sec. 4o57. (Sec. 4s47 G. L.) Freight
wagons, carts or carriages carrying
tons shall have the tires and felloes of
their wheels at least two inches wide and
If carrying more than two tons and less
their wheels shall be at least three
inches wide and if carrying more than
three tons and less than four tons the
tires and felloes shall be four inches wide
and if carrying more than four tons and
ICSo tiidli BIN tOIIS tIlCI IlICS dIlu ICl-
loes shall be FIVE inches wide; but the
selectmen may give person permission
to use wagons, carts or carriages in their
respective town with the tires or felloes
of less width than is provided in this
section, when in their opinion, the high
ways would not be injured thereby.
Sec. 2. Section 4o58 of the Public
Statutes (Sec. 4s48 of the General Laws,
as proposedD is hereby amended so as
to read as follows:
Sec. 4osS. (Sec. 4548 G. L) A person
who violates provision of the preced.
ing section shall be fined not less than
five dollars nor more than fifty dollars
Said offender shall be further liable to
the town in which the offense is commit
ted for the damages to a public highway
by reason of such violation to be recov-
cred in an action of tort, on this statute
in the name of the town, provided the
action IS brought within six months after
such offense Is committed
This act shall take effect March I,
1918
Approved April n, 1917.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-25
NO. 127.
AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIA-
TON FOR UNSOLICITED HIGH
WAYS.

TON FOR UNSOLICITED HIGH
WAYS.
1t is hereby enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Section I. Section AGO of the Public
Statutes as amended by section of No.
40 of the acts Of 1910 and section /
of No. 13o of the acts of 1915 is hereby
Sec. 400. All fees required by this
chapter shall be deposited with the Sec
retary of state at the time of making
application, and said secretary shall pay
the same quarterly into the state treas
Jury. All expenses incurred by the Sec
Rotary of state under the provisions of
this chapter shall be deducted from the
gross amount of fees received under the
provisions of this chapter, and the bal
ance shall be set apart as a separate
fund to be called the maintenance
fund.-" said fund to be expended as fol-
lows: Fifty thousand dollars of said
fund Is hereby annually set apart to be
used by the state highway commissioner
in assisting towns in the maintenance
and improvement of highways other than
selected highways, the balance of said
maintenance fund" to be used in the
repair and maintenance of the main
thoroughfares and state roads, including
the maintenance and necessary improve
ments on the sand bar bridge and cul-
vert, and said money shall be expended
upon such thoroughfarcs under the SUI
pervision and direction of the state high
way commissioner Said commissioner
shall make such rules and regulations
respecting the expenditure and amor
tionment of such funds, and shall cause
such amounts of money to be expended
in the several counties of the state under
the provisions of this chapter, as in his
judgment seems for the best interests Of
the state The said maintenance fund"
is appropriated for the purposes speci-
fed herein and the auditor of accounts
shall draw his order therefor upon the
Irequisition and the approval of the state
highway commissioner.
Sec. 2. This act shall take effec,
from its passage.
Approved March ~. 1917.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-25
NO. 124.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 1904
OF THE PUBLIC STATUTES AS
AMENDED BY SECTION OF NO.
81 OF THE ACTS OF 1908 RELAT-
ING TO HIGHWAYS, CREATING
COUNTY SUPERVISORS OF
HIGHWAYS.
1t is hereby enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Section I. Section 1904 of the Public
Statutes as amended by section of No.
81 of the acts of 1903 (Sec. 44o2 of the
General Laws, as proposed) is hereby
amended so as to read as follows
Sec. 4oo4. (Sec. 44o2 G. L. Said
highway commissioner shall annually
divide the state into highway districts
in such manner and in such number not
exceeding twelve, as he may determine,
and said highway commissioner shall an
nually, subject to the approval of the
governor, appoint district highway COM
missioner for each such highway district.
Said district highway commissioners
shall be subject to the direction and con-
troll of the state highway commissioner
and shall assist him in supervising the
expenditure of the moneys apportioned
and appropriated BY the state for high
way improvement, and in inspecting the
roads that have been built or may be
built with state money and that may be
selected for improvement under the pro-
visions of this chapter and shall perform
such other duties as the state highway
commissioner directs. The state high
way commissioner shall, subject to the
approval of the governor, fix the COM
pensation of said district highway CON-
missioner Said district highway COM
missioners shall receive their necessary
expenses while away from home on Off
cial business. Accounts for such CON-
pensation and expenses when approved
by the state highway commissioner shall
be paid by the state.
Approved March 2, 1917.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-25

VI
FITS OF THE FEDERAL AID
ROAD ACT.
1t is hereby enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Section I. The State of Vermont
through its General Assembly duly con-
vened, hereby assents to, approves and
pledges its good faith to meet the terms
of an act Of congress approved July H..
1916, entitled "An act to provide that
the United States shall aid the states in
the construction of rural post roads, and
for other purposes"
Sec. 2. The state highway commits
sioner is hereby authorized to take such
action as shall be necessary under the
provisions of such federal aid road
act, and the rules and regulations of
the secretary of agriculture to carry out
the provisions thereof to secure to the
State of Vermont the aid provided for
in such act and the benefits arising there
under.
Sec. 3. For the purpose of carrying
out the provisions of this act and to
secure the benefits provided for under
such federal aid road act, the state high
way commissioner is hereby authorized
to use so much of the funds available for
highway purposes in his department as
shall be necessary to secure such aid
from the federal government under such
federal aid road act; and in addition
thereto may use such further sum as
may be necessary for surveys, plans,
specifications, estimates and assistance
necessary to carry out the provisions of
this act
Sec. 4. The state highway commits
sioner for the purpose Of carrying out
the provisions of this act is hereby
authorized to designate the roads to be
improved, constructed or reconstructed
under the provisions of this act.
Sec. S. A town, city or incorporated
village may cooperate with the state
highway commissioner in any way neces-
sary to carry out the provisions of this
act, and to that end may contribute
financial or other assistance.
Sec. 6. This act shall take effect
from its passage.
Approved February Ia, 1917.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-25
NO. u9.

AN ACT RELATING TO ORDERS
DRAWN BY TOWN ROAD COM
z MISSIONERS.
1t is hereby enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Section 1. An order drawn by a town
road commissioner payable to himself
shall not be paid by the town treasurer
until approved in writing by one of the
selectmen.
Sec. 2. This act shall take effect
from its passage.
Approved April II, 1917.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-25

an opening on the side or sides facing
the approach Of such highway, width,
length and location of said opening to
be determined by the sclectmcn.
Sec. 2. This act shall take effect
from its passage.
Approved March IS, 1917.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-25

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 2
AND 8 OF NO. I2o OF THE ACTS
OF 1915, PROVIDING AID FOR
TOWNS FOR REPAIRING,
BUILDING OR REBUILDING
BRIDGES. INCREASING THE
APPROPRIATION.
L. is hereby enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Section I. Section of No. I2o of the
acts of 1915 (Sec. 4456 of the General
Laws, as proposed) is hereby amended
10 as to read as follows:
Sec. 2. (See. Ass G. ~ If the
selectmen of town build or rebuild .
bridge on a state road of span not less
than four feet, and not more than thirty
feet, they may apply to said commits
sioner for aid. Said commissioner may,
upon his approval of the building or re-
building Of such bridge, and upon the
Seceipt Of . sworn statement from the
selectmen, On such forms as said COM
,suissioner may furnish, showing the cost
of building or rebuilding. such bridge,
and such other faes - he may require,
issue . certificate IN favor Of the town in
which such bridge has been built or re-
built for such q sum a he deems just,
bat sueh aid shall not, however, exceed
lthirty-three and third per cent of the
east Of the building or rebuilding of
Isuch bridge, nor shan it exceed four
hundred dollars for any one bridge: In
Ill eases where the traffic demands it.
said commissioner may require that
bridges be constructed to bear . load of
not less than fifteen tons, and to be not
less than twenty feet in width, but in
rase the circumstances warrant, these
requirements may be varied IS may be
agreed upon between said commissioner
Sec. 4 Section 8 of No. rag of the
acts of 1915 (Sec. 4457 of the General
Laws, as proposed) is hereby amended
@ as to read as follows:
Sec. 3 (Sec. Asst G. ~ The sum
OF twenty-five thousand dollars is hereby
1smually appropriated for the purposes
Of this act, which appropriation shall be
known as the bridge fund.-" and any
balance not expended in any year may,
at the discretion of said commissioner
be added to the appropriation of the fol-
lowing year, or may be added to the fund
provided for by section 4ooo Of the Pub,
lie Statutes, as amended by No. las OF
The acts of 1912.
Sec. 8. This act shall take effect
lsom its passage
Approved March 4, 1917.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-25

AN ACT RELATING TO REPAIR
ING, BUILDING OR REBUILD
Il 10 hereby enacted BY the General
Assembly Of the State of Vermont:
Section !. The selectmen shall re-
SURE all covered bridges now existing,
o. being rebuilt or to be built, located
where any highway approaches such
bridge at an angle, to be so constructed,
tepassed or rebuilt that such bridge shall
hive the bearded sides thereof contain
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-25
NO. l2S.

AN AL III CREATE The OFFICE
OF STATE ENGINEER AND TO
DEFINE HIS DUTIES: TO
AMEND SECTION OF NO. 226
OF THE ACTS OF 1906 AND TO
REPEAL SECTIONS 2 AND 3 OF
SAID ACT, RELATING TO
BOUNDARY LINE COMMITS
1t is hereby enacted by the General
Section I. The governor shall bien-
nially appoint state engineer, who shall
devote his entire time to the duties of
his Office.
Sec, z. Said engineer shall. under the
direction of the state highway commits
sioner, have charge of all engineering
work except such as can be handled by
the district highway commissioners in
the highway department which may arise
in connection with the duties of said
commissioner and shall perform sucl,
other engineering work in connection
with the duties of other state officers,
boards, commissions and departments as
the governor or board of control directs
acts of 1906 (Sec. al of the General
l.dWN, dS 10 ahuSbpNu
so as to read as follows:
Sec. I. (Scc. 81 G., L.) The state
engineer shall. by virtue of his Office
be boundary line commissioner. Said
commissioner shall periodically examine
and inspect all the monuments or other
marks defining the location of the bound
airy lines of the state; and, II any of then
have been injured, displaced, removed
-, tos< ea;d ron, ~, siOner shaii in ron,
junction with a similar officer or officer.
of other states or countries bordering
this state. restore them or replace then
with suitable stone monuments, and II
the same manner set suitable ston,
monuments at points not properl,
marked where the state boundary IS in
tersected by the boundary Of any othel
counties or towns in the state or by /;
highway or railroad. Said commissions
shall be paid his necessary expense
when away from home on official bust
ness. He may employ competent sur
veyor OF civil engineer to aid him il
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-25
NO. 1874.

AN ACT RELATING TO HEAD
LIGHTS AND SPOT LIGHTS ON
VEHICLES.
1t is hereby enacted by the General
Assembly of the State. of Vermont:
Section L No person shall use On q
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-25


Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Section /. Section 1904 of the Public
Statutes as amended BY section of No.
13o of the acts of 1910 and section I
of No. I47 of the acts of roI3 is hereby
amended so as to read a follows:
Sec. 4oo4 An automobile or mctor
vehicle while m use OF at rest On Q pub-
lie highway shall be provided with IN
adequate brake, . mufner, and . suitable
bell or horn or other means of signalling;
and the person in control or charge q
such automobile or motor vehicle sha1l
in going around curve m highway, Of
on approaching an intersection of the
same signal with such bell or horn An
automobile or motor vehicle in use or
at rest on public highway during the
period from forty-five minutes after sun
set to forty-hve minutes before sunrise
shall display at least two lighted lamps
on the front, and one on the rear Of
such automobile or motor vehicle which
shall also display red light visible from
the rear, The rays of such rear light
shall shine upon the number plate car
ried on the rear of such automobile or
motor vehicle in such manner as to rem
der the numerals thereon visible for at
least fifty feet in the direction from which
such automobile or motor vehicle is pro-
ceedlng. The light from the front lamps
shall be visible at least two hundred feet
in the direction in which the automobile
or motor vehicle is proceeding. A motor
cycle operated during the period from
forty-five minutes after sunset TO forty
five minutes before sunrise, shall dis
play at least one lighted lamp on the
front of such motor cycle
Sec. =. Section 2 of No. I47 Of the
acts Of 1919 as amended by section OF
No, 1877 of the acts of 1915 is hereby re-
pealed.
Sec. B. This act shall take effect
from its passage.
Approved March q, 1917.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-25
NO. 126.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 4ooo|
OF THE PUBLIC STATUTES AS