RATES OF ADVERTISING: Oae Square, one inch, one week... 109 One Square, one inch, one month, t M One Square, one inch, 3 months.... i 0t One Square, one inch, one year .... 10 0$ Two Squares, one y ear. ......... 15 0 Quarter Column, one year 30 00 Half Column, one year . 60 00 One Column, one year . 190 00 Legal advertisements ten cents per line each Insertion. We do fine Job Printing of every de scription at reasonable rates, but it's cash on delivery. Published every Wednesday by J. E. WENK. Office in Smearbaugh k Wenk Building, ELM 8TRKKT, TIONESTA, FA. Fore Republican Term, $ 1.00 A Year, Nlrlrtly In Advaaee. No subscription recoived for a shorter poriod than three months. Correspondence solicited, but no notice will bo taken of anonymous communlca liuns. Always give your name. VOL. XXXVI. NO. 10. TIONESTA. PA., WEDNESDAY. MAY 20. 1903. $1.00 PER ANNUM. THE FOREST REPUBLICAN. s BOKOUGH OFFICERS. 7ltiVea.-F.R.Lanson OuuHC,lmen.-Dr. J. O. Dunn, G. O. Gaston, J. B. Muse, C. V. Weaver, J. W, Landers, J. T. Dalo. W. F Kil liner. Justice vf the reaeeC. A. lUudall, S. J. Setley. Constable 8. K. Maxwell. Collector S. J. Setley. School Directors L. Fulton. J. O. Soowden, J. E. WetiK, Patrick Joyce, L Agnew, K. L. Haslet, , FOREST COUNTY OFFICERS. 'Member of OmreM-Joseph C. 8ibley. Member of Senate J. K. P.. Hall. . Assembly V. W. Amsler. President Judge V. M. Lindsey. Associate Judges-li. U. Crawford, W. II. H. Dottorer. . JotKonotary, Register & Recorder, e. J. C. deist. Sheriff: Geo. W. Noblit. Treasurer Fred. A. Keller. CbiMnnM O. Burhenn, A. K. Shipe, Henry Weingard. !.(,c( AMorney-S. D. Trwln. . , Jury Commissioners Ernest tstuuie, Low to Wagner. Cbi-oner-Dr. J. W. Morrow. County tt(i9r-W. H. Stiles, Geo. W. Hbloman, B. A. MeOloskey. Count! Surveyor-!). W. I County A'upnnnrfn( E. K. di" uer. -- tegular Term of Court. Fourth Monday of February. Third Monday or May. Fourth Monday of September. Third Monday of November. Church anil Hnbbnlli Hehool. Presbyterian Sabbath School at 9:45 a. in. : M. K. Sabbath School at 10:00 a. in. I'reachmg in M. E. Church every Sab bath evening by Kev. O. II. Nickle Preaching in the F. M. Church every Sabbath evening at the usual hour. Kev. MMlarvy, Pastor. Serflces in the Presbyterian Church every Sabbath morning and evening, Kev.' It. W. Illingworth, Pastor. The regular meetings of the W. C. 1. U. are held at the headquarters on the second and fourtn Tuesdays of each in- nth. BUSINESS DIRECTORY. r pi . N EST A LOW i E, No. 3(10, 1. 0. 0. F, 1 Meott every Tuesday evening, inOdil Fellows' Hall, Partridge building. ixhiknt lodge, no. w.a.o.u. w I Moots every Friday evening inA.O.U. W. Hall, Tlonesta. v "" ri APT. UKOKGB STOW POST, No. 274 J G. A, iv. Meow isianu ou 4""""? evening in each mouth, in A. O. U. W. Hall, Tionesta. J 1:17. W. R. C, meets first and third weiinestisy bvtouim " .....-, O. U. W. hall, Tioneata, Pa. . ....... r . r r T 1 M., meets 2nd and 4th Wednesday rvenlnir In each month In A. O. U. W. hall Tionesta, Pa. lF-RITCARNEY.AT-LAW, Tionesta, Pa c URTIS M. S HAWKEY, A TTO It N 1 Y A 1 - Li A v , Warren, Pa Praolice In Forest Co. AC .BROWN, ATTORN EY-ATLAW, nnirai in Arner Uuildimr. Cor. Elm and Bridge Sis., Tionesta, Pa. J W. MORROW, M. D., Plivsli-ian. Suriroou A Dontist OlHee and Residence throe doors north of Hotel Airnew. Tionesta. Professional calls promptly respondod to at all hours, I) R. F. J. BOVARD, Physician Surgeon, TIONESTA, PJ nR.J. C. DUNN, unvsimi ANT AND SURGEON and DUUGGIvr. Office over stare', n,i. i'u pruuiniiHl pulls nroiiint- liiilimL, . - IV responded to at all hours of day or tilglll. luwiuence tjiiii ", Urove's giocory and uerow s resuuinuii, D n J. n. siggins. Physician and Mirgenn, 3 OIL CITY, PA. F. R. LANSON. Hardware, Tinning A Plumbing. Tionesta, Pi Ss J' 8KT,V,Yi,'W nv Til R PEACH. uv;oiv-fv t il l KeepA a complete line of JuMtWre s blanka lor sale. Also imhuk uecua, iii.n.6f,. .at, ,.. et, I loni'sia, i n. HOTEL WEAVER, w Wl'lVCR Prnnr etor Tills hotel', formerly the Lawrence House, lias undergone iiiiitiw'i.-ii-"n", 1 i r...L,l.ul with ai; tlm IIKK1- ern improvements. Heated and lighted f .rl.l. ..olnrul irati liHLliroillllH. hot and cold water, etc. The comlorts of guests never negiocied. c CENTRAL HOUSE. (IK IOW A OK1UIW I'roprioior, Tionseta, Pa. This is the inostceiitraliy located hotel in the place, and has all the modern improvements. No pains will be spared to make it a pleasant stopping place for the traveling public. First class Livery in connection. piIIL. KMERT FANCY BOOT A SHOEMAKER. Shop in Walters building, Cor. Elm and Walnut streets, Is prepared to do all Kinds of custom work Irom the linest to ilioooHi-xext and guarantees his work to give iKtrfect satisfaction. Prompt atten tion given to mending, and prices rea sonable. J ORENZO FULTON. Manufacturer of and Dealer in HARNESS, COIURS, BRIDLES, And all Vlnds of HORSE FURNISHING GOODS. TIONESTA. PA. 5 II MSIHT St U. ii. UUUilUl Ub MUilM.f GENERAL MERCHANTS, Furniture Dealers, AND UNDERTAKERS. TIONESTA, I'ENN PENNSYLVANIA'S NEW ROAD LAW New Highway Department Created to Improve Highways. STATE PAYS TWO-THIRDS COST Balance of Cost Is Divided Between County and Township In Which Work Is Done $6,500,000 Appropri ated, of Which $500,000 Is Availa ble This Year. AN ACT Providing for the establishment of a State Highway Department, by the appointment of a State Highway Commissioner and staff of assistants, and defining the powers and duties thereof; authorizing the State High way Department to co-operate with the several counties and townships, and with boroughs In certain in stances, In the improvement of the public highways and the maintenance of improved highways; providing for the application of counties and town ships for State aid In highway im provement and maintenance; provid ing for the payment of the cost of highway improvements, made under the provisions of this act, by the State, the counties, and the town ships, and making an appropriation for this purpose. Whereas, It la of great importance to the people of this Commonwealth that the public highways should be systematically Improved, and that the several counties and townships should bo given the aid and encouragement of the State In the building and main tenance of Improved highways; there fore. Section 1. Be it enacted, &c, That immediately upon the approval of this act, a State Highway Department shall be established by the appointment by the Governor of the Commonwealth, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of four years, of a State Highway Commissioner, who shall be a competent civil engineer, and experienced In the construction and maintenance of improved roads. Said State Highway Commissioner shall receive a salary of three thou sand five hundred dollars per annum, and shall be allowed his actual travel ing expenses, not exceeding five hun dred dollars, while officially employed. He shall furnish a bond In the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars for the faithful performance of his duty, said bond to be approved by the Governor, and he shall give his whole time and attention to the duties of his position. The said State Highway Commissioner may appoint, as the work of the de partment requires It, and subject to the approval of the Governor, one as sistant, who shall be a capable and competent civil engineer and exper ienced In road building, who shall re ceive an annual salary of two thou sand dollars, and shall be allowed hla actual traveling expense, not to exceed five hundred dollars, when on official business; and he shall also appoint a chief clerk, at an annual salary of fif teen hundred dollars per annum, and may employ an additional clerk who shall be a competent stenographer, at an expense not to exceed one thousand dollars per annum. The State High way Commissioner may require -..e employes of the Department to give bind for the faithful performance of their duty, In suitaole and reasonable amounts. Section 2. The State Highway De partment shall be provided with suit able rooms in the State buildings at Harrisburg, and Its offices shall be open at all reasonable times for the trans action of public business. The State Highway Commissioner shall carry Into effect the provisions of this act and all acts of Assembly providing for the co-operation of the State in the construction and maintenance of public highways. He shall have charge of the records of the State Highway De partment; and shall each year submit to the Governor of the Commonwealth a full report of the operations of the Department, the number of miles, cost and character of the roads built under Its direction, detailed statements of the expenses of the Department, and such other Information concerning the con dition of the public roads of the State and the progress of their improve ment as may be proper. Section 3. Whenever the county com missioners of any county shall repre sent by petition to said State Highway Department that any principal high way In said county, outside of the cor porate limits of any city or borough, Is not In a satisfactory condition for comfortable or economical travel, and ought to be reconstructed under the provisions of this act, and shall fur nish to the said Department an accu rate plan of the layout, lines, profile and established grade of such highway, it shall be the duty of the State High way Commissioner to examine such highway, or Instruct one of his assist ants so to do and if In the judgment uf the State Highway Commissioner raid representation Is well-founded, he shall determine what changes should he made in said exist ing highway, what portion of It should he improved and in what manner, and shall prepare ac- urate plans and make careful detailed estimates of the expense of the work which. In his opinion, should be done, and report the same to the county com missioners of the county and the su pervisors or commissioners of the township or townships In which the said highway may lie. If the said county commissioners and township supervisors or commissioners then de cide that it is advisable to go on with the work as hereinafter provided, and 'iiake tho required agreements as herc 'tafltrr specified, the State Highway Department may, if the funds at Its 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 plied 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-five (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 If the appropriation, so apportioned by the State, shall not be so applied for a period of two years after it 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 tained shall prevent any county and townships from agreeing to appropri ate a larger amount for such road Im 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 cified; 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 tion established by the State High way Department, as best adapted to the locality in which they may be lo cated, with due regard to the topo graphy and natural conditions and the availability of road-building materials, and shall be constructed according to the best engineering practice. No sec tion of highway Improved under this act shall be less than one-fourth mile In length, nor shall the Improved por tion 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 estimated cost of the work as pro vlded for. Every person, firm or cor poration, before being awarded any contract for the construction or im provement of any highway under the provisions of this act, shall furnish a bond, acceptable to the State High way Commissioner, in a sum equal to the contract price of the work, condi tioned upon the satisfactory comple tion of the same and to save harmless the State, county and the township or townships, In which the work may He, 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 vants. Section 6. Any township may, through its supervisors or commissioners, be authorized to bid for the construction of such portion of any highway inv provement, undertaken under the pro visions of this act, as may lie within its limits; and any township submit ting such bid shall have the same con slderation as other bidders, and, It awarded the contract, shall fulfill the same and be subject to the same regu lations as are laid down for other bid ders. Section 7. Upon the completion of any highway, rebuilt or improved tin der the provisions of this act, tho State Highway Commissioner shall 1m mediately ascertain the total expense of the same, and apportion the said total expense between the State, the county and the township, or townships. in the proportion hereinbefore provld ed; and in case the said improved high way shall extend into or through two or more townships, he shall apportion the proportion of the expense, afore said, to be borne by each township anion.'; tho several townships, in the same proportionate parts us the cost of the improvement within each town ship Bhall bear to the whole expense of tho Improvement which has been made according to the provisions of His act; and the said State Highway Commissioner shall certify the total expense of said Improvement to the county commissioners and to the super visors or commissioners of the town ship, or townships, in which the im proved highway has been constructed, respectively, specifying tho amounts to be borne by the State, the county and the township, or each township, as provided by this act. Section 8. The State's share of the expense of highway improvement or maintenance, under the provisions of this act. shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon the warrant of the State Highway Commissioner, attested by the chief clerk of the State High way Department, out of any specifi: appropriations made by the legislature to carry out the provisions of this act; and the share of the county In which said highway improvement, as Herein provided, has been made, shall be a charge upon the funds of said county, and shall be paid by the county treas urer upon the order of the county com missioners. The share of the township or townships in which the said high way improvement, as herein provided, has been made, shall be paid by the township supervisors or commission ers, as other debts of said township or townships are paid. . The State High way Department, the county commis sioners of the county, and the miper vlsors or commissioners of the town ship, or townships, in which any high way is being improved under the pro visions of this act, may, with the ap proval of the State Highway Commis sioner, make partial payments to the contractor or contractors performing the work, as the same progresses; but not more than two-thirds of tht Ir pro portionate shares of the contract, price for the work shall be paid. In advance of the full completion of the same, by either the State Highway Department, the county, and the township or town ships, so that at least one-third of the full contract price shall be withheld until the work is satisfactorily com pleted and accepted, and the exact pro portions of the cost thereof apportion ed to the State, county and township, or townships: Provided, That a cash road tax be levied by each township, where such road improvement Is being made, to meet the cost of such perma nent road Improvement as is provided In this act. Section 9. Every contract authorized to be made by the State Highway De partment, under the provisions of thla act, shall be made in the name of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and shall be signed by the State Commis sioner of Highways and attested by the Chief Clerk of the Department, and shall be approved, as to form and le gality, by the Attorney General or Dep uty Attorney General of the Common wealth. No contract for any highway improvement shall be let by the State Highway Department, nor shall any work be authorized under the provi sions of this act, until the written agreement of the county commission ers of the county and the supervisors or commissioners of the township, or townships, in which said proposed Im provement is to be made, agreeing to assume their respective shares of the cost thereof, as hereinbefore provided, shall be on file in the office of the State Highway Department, and shall have been approved, as to form and legality, by the Attorney General or the Deputy Attorney General of the Common wealth. Section 10. The county commission ers of any county may, upon the pres entation to them of a petition from the supervisors or commissioners of any township, or of two or more adjoining townships, representing that any prin cipal highway or section thereof, lying within said township or townships, is In need of reconstruction, and setting forth that said township or townships desire to take advantage of the provi sions of this act to improve said high way, pass a resolution petitioning the State Highway Department to under take the improvement of the highway or section thereof specified In the petl tion from the township or townships aforesaid, and authorizing the assump tion by the county of its share of the expense of said Improvement; accom panying the said petition to the State Highway Department with a map or plan showing the layout, lines, profile and grade of such highway, as herein before provided: Provided, That where the county commissioners petition the State Highway Commissioner for the improvement of a public road or parts thereof, they shall state the kind of material to be used or available for such road. Section 11. The supervisors or com mlssioners of any township In any county of the Commonwealth may pe tition the county commissioners of said county to make application to the State Highway Department for the co operation of the State in the recon struction or permanent improvement of any principal highway within the said township, or any section (hereof which is much used as a thoroughfare by the people of said township and the neighboring townships, cities and boroughs, agreeing by resolution to as sume, for said township, the propor tionate share of the expense of said Im provement, as hereinbefore provided. It shall be lawful for any township to Incur Indebtedness or to issii" bonds, in the manner authorized by law, for the payment of the said township's share of the ost of any highway im provement undertaken under tht pro visions of this act. If within thirty days after the receipt of any petition for highway improvement in any town ship, under the provisions of this ai t, a petition, signed by the owners of a majority of the assessed valuation of real estate ill said township, Is receiv ed by the county commissioners of the county in which said township is lo cated, protesting against said proposed expenditure upon the part of the town ship, then the county commissioners Shall take no action on said petitiou for lmprovemrui, bfft shell return the same to the supervisors or commis sioners from whom it was received. Upon the recfipt of a petition, signed by the owners of a majority of the as sessed valuation of real estate In any township, requesting the application by said township for the Improvement of any highway in said township accord ing to the provisions of this act, it shall be the duty of the supervisors or commissioners of said township to pe tition the county commissioners In the manner hereinbefore described. Section 12. In case the county com missioners of any county shall neglect or refuse to act upon the petition of any township or townships for highway improvement, as herein provided, or shall refuse to petition the State high way Department for State aid in such proposed Improvement, after said town ship or townships shall have complied with the conditions of this act in peti tioning said county commissioners, the supervisors or commissioners of said township or townships may, through their proper officers, petition the court of quarter sessions of said county for the appointment of a Jury of view to examine into the necessity of said pro posed highway improvement; and upon the said jury of view making a report favorable to said Improvement, and with the approval of the court. It shall be the duty of, and the court may by order require, the said county commis sioners to petition the said State High way Department for the co-operatlon of the State In the said proposed high way improvement, in the manner here in provided. Said jury of view to be appointed and compensated in tho same manner, and to have the same powers, as juries of view for laying out or changing public roads have by existing law. Section 13. The supervisors or com missioners of any adjacent townships, In the same county, In which any por tion of a principal highway running into or through said townships may lie, may by resolution Jointly petition the county commissioners of their county to make application to Jhe biate Highway Department for the co-opera tion of the State in repairing or re building said highway, as herein pro vided. Section 14. Advertisements for propo sals for the reconstruction or Improve ment of highways under tho provisions of this act shall be given by the county commissioners, at least thirty days be fore the contracts may be awarded, by public notice in at least two newspa pers of general circulation in the coun ty in which the highway to be inir proved Is located; such advertisement to designate where the plans and spe cifications may be had, and the time and place of the reception of bids and the letting of the contract. Section 15. Ten per centum of the amount available for highway purposes, under the provisions of this act, shall be set aside for the purpose of mainte nance of highways, as hereinafter pro vided, and shall be apportioned by the State Highway Commissioner among the townships or counties applying for the same, In proportion to the mileage of Improved highways made under the provisions of this act, or which have already been made or may hereafter be made, at the expense of such town ships or counties, and which are ot me standard prescribed by the State High way Department for Improved high ways. Section 16. Whenever the supervisors or commissioners or any townsuip or county shall desire State aid for the purpose of maintenance of improved highways, whether State highways im proved under the provisions of this act or otherwise, it shall be the duty of said supervisors or commissioners to file with the State Highway Depart ment, on or before the first day of April In each year, a sworn petition requesting such State aid, and setting forth the number of miles of highways Improved according to tue standards of the State Highway Department in said township, and the cost of the same to said township, together with the condi tion of said improved highways and the average annual cost of maintaining the same. The State Commissioner of Highways, If in his judgment the con ditions warrant tho co-operation of the State in maintaining said highways, shall apportion to Raid township its proportion of the total amount availa ble for the maintenance of Improved highways, as hereinbefore provided, and the said amount shall be paid to the supervisors or commissioners of said township by warrant of the State Highway Department; but in no case shall the amount thus given by the State for maintenance, be more tnan one-half the amount which, in the Judgment and experience of the State Highway Commissioner, the annual cost of maintaining improved high ways of the standard of construction prevailing in such township should be, nor more than one-half the sworn.avcr age annual cost of maintenance, as set forth In the petition of the supervisors or commissioners of the said town ships. Section 17. All highways, or portions of highways, constructed or improved nnder the provisions of this act, shall thereafter b known as "State High ways," but. so far as the same may be within the limits of any township, shall be kept in repair, so that they may bn maintained at the standard of condi tion prescribed for highways of their class by the State Highway Depart ment, at the expense of said township; but the supervisors or commissioners Of any township possessing improved highways may ask for and receive State aid for the maintenance of the same, as hereinbefore provided. It shall be the duty of the supervisors or commissioners or every township in which said State lligliw. may lie, to maintain the same generally at a reas onable standard, prescribed for such roads by the State Highway Depart ment. Section 18. The word ' highway," an used in this act, shall be construed to Include any existing causeway or bridge, or any new causeway or bridge, or any drain or water-course which may form part of a road, and which might properly be built, according to existing laws, by the township or town ships; but shall not include causeways or bridges which should properly be built by a county, or adjoining coun ties, or by the State. Section 19. Where a portion of an im portant main highway, traversing t.ne or more townships, and for the Im provement of which according to the provisions of this act, application has been made by said township or town ships, shall lie within the limits of any borough or boroughs, and whero the failure of said borough or boroughs to improve the said highway would leave a break or unimproved section in a continuous Improved highway, It shall be lawful for the county commissioners of the county in which Bald highway Is located, to enter into an agreement with said borough or boroughs to bear a portion of the expense of said im provement of the highway within the borough limits, in the same manner as is herein provided for co-operation be tween the counties and townships; and tho State Highway Department may, if tho State Highway Commissioner so recommends, bear a portion of the ex pense of said improvement of said high way within said borough limits, but in no case shall the portion of said ex pense to bo borne by the State exceed one-third of the total expense of said improvement, nd boroughs shall only receive aid from the State, as afore said, In cases where failure to receive such aid would prevent a continuous Improvement of an Important main highway, provision forthe rebuiUiingof which has been made In the township or townships adjoining said borough or boroughs. All Improvements made In borough highways, as herein provided, shall be of a character similar to that specified for the township or townships through which the highway to be Im proved passes in reaching saftl borough and boroughs, and tho plans and speci fications for the work shall be approv ed by the State Highway Department; and the completed work shall be ap proved by said department before any warrant shall be Issued for the State's share In such Improvement, as herein provided. It shall be the duty of tho proper officers of said borough or bor oughs, charged with the maintenance of the streets and highways of said bor ough or boroughs, to keep and main tain said improved highway, within the borough limits, in a condition to con form to the standard established by the State Highway Department for the maintenance of similar highways. Section 20. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall not be liable to any person or corporation for damages aris ing from the rebuilding or Improve ment of any highway under this act, nor shall the State engage to keep such highway In repair after the same shall have been rebuilt or Improved, except to extend the aid In maintenance here in provided. In case any person or persons, or corporations, shall sustain damage by any change In grade, or by the taking of land to alter the loca tion of any highway which may De Ira proved under this art, and the county commissioner and the parties so in jured cannot agree on the amount of damages sustained, such persons or corporations may present their peti tion to the court of quarter sessions for the appointment of viewers to as certain and assess such damage; the proceedings upon which said petition and by the viewers shall be governed by the laws relating to the assessment of damages for opening public high ways, and such damages, when ascer tained, shall be paid by the respective counties, and afterwards apportioned by the Commissioner of Highways, ac cording to the provisions of section seven. Section 21. In addition to hla other duties, the State Highway Commis sioner shall cause to be made ami kept for the State Highway Department a general highway plan of the State, anu compile statistics and collect informa tion relative to the mileage, character and condition of the highways in the townships and counties of the State. He shall Investigate and determine upon the various methods of road con struction best adapted to the various sections of the State; and establish standards for the construction and maintenance of highways In the vari ous sections, taking Into consideration the topography of the country, the nat ural conditions and the character and availability of road-building material, and the ability of the townships and counties to build and maintain roads nnder the provisions of this act. He may, at all reasonable times, be con sulted by county, city, borough or township officers having authority over highways and bridges, and shall, when requested, advise and give Information to such officers relative to the con struction, repairing, alteration and maintenance of the said highways and bridges. He shall at all times lend his aid in promoting improvement throughout the State, and shall pre pare and disseminate useful Informa tion relative to road building and Im provement. Section 22. County commissioners or county engineers of the several coun ties of this Slale, and the oflicers of all cities, boroughs and townships In the Slate, who now have, or may here after have by law, authority over the public highways and bridges, shall, upon the written request of the State Highway Department, furnish said De partment with any informal n rela tive to the mileage, cost of building, and maintenance, condition and char acter of the highways uiidor their Ju risdiction, ami with any other needful information relating to the Bald high ways. Section 23. All highways Improved under the provisions of this avl shall reijuirt) the construction of a macad amized road, or a telford or other stone road, or a road constructed of gravel, cinder, oyster-shells, or other good ma terials, in such manner that the same, of whatever material constructed, will, with reasonable repairs thereto, at all seasons of the year be firm, smooth and convenient for travel. The county commlssicmers snail have the autnor ity to select the kind of materials to be used In Improving any road under the provisions of this act Any differ ence of opinion that may arise between the county commissioners and the township road authorities, as to the kind of a road to be built, shall be decided by the State Highway Commis sioner. The State Highway Commis sioner shall furnish to the county com missioners and township road author ities information as to the probable cost of Improved highways, as defined In this section. Section 24. The sum of six millions five hundred thousand dollars Is hereby appropriated to carry out the provi sions of this act during the next six years. Of this sum, an amount not to exceed five hundred thousand dollars shall be available in the first year after the passage of this act, not more tnan five hundred thousand dollars shall be available in the second year, one mil lion two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in each of the two next follow ing years, and one million five hundred thousand dollars in each of the two years next following. Section 25. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby re pealed: Provided, That the provisions of this act shall not be construed to repeal any of the provisions of the road acts approved June twenty-sixth, one thousand eight hundred and ninety five (Pamphlet laws, three hundred and thirty-six), and June twenty-three, one thousand eight hundred and ninety seven (Pamphlet laws, one hundred and ninety-four), and July ten, one thousand nine hundred and one (Pam phlet laws, six hundred and thirty-six). Approved The 15th day of April, A. D. 1903. SAML. W. PENNYPACKER. Frank M. Fuller, Secretay of the Commonwealth. CATCHING CRABS. (lopnnk Itlvrr Kluliem Land Them liy au Iit;7inloi!i Method. Those who crab for market on the Choptank river, Maryland, have nn In genious method of catching crabs In quantity. A rope about the thickness of n clothesline several hundred feet long is kept colled in a keg. At Inter vals of two feet nlong the entire length of the rope the fisherman has untwisted It and inserted between the strands lliort pieces of salted eels. The torsion of tlie strand holds them tightly in place. Each end of the rope lias a keg buoy attached, together with a heavy ttone. Arriving at the favored place, usually on oyster beds, be throws a keg overboard and pays out n highly scent ed rope ns he sails. When the other end is readied, he anchors it with an other stone und throws out another buoy. After lowering his sail he waits a few minutes, then takes his stand on the bow of his boat. Alongside of him is his landing net, with a handle six feet long. lie raises the buoy and i-tone mid, hand over hand, pulls his boat nlong the line. When a crab, clinging to Its refreshment, conies In sight, be seizes his net, dashes It under the crab and (lings It into tho loat. The wary crab inny loosen his hold and dive for the bottom, but such is the fisher man's dexterity that his net Is swifter than the crab. One seldom gets away. Several hundreds of .Tabs are often taken at cucli overhauling of the rope. When he has caught all he wants, ho pucks them in barrels and sells them to u local dealer, who ships them to mar ket Country Life In America. Four firrnt lonlrlan. Palestrlna was a revolutionist In his lay, but Is now virtually obsolete even for the severest classicists. Cluck was lis radical nn Innovator ns Wagner, yet It Is only occasionally nml with dif ficulty that one of his works can now be briefly resuscitated. Peetlioveu Wna a madman even to ninny of tho best musicians ns late ns Is).". when, nn that musical veteran. Professor Hnupt, himself said, the "Fifth Symphony" was rehearsed in Herlln for tho first time, and the orchestra dashed tho music from the rucks, declaring It wns crazy nnd could never bo played. Now lids same "Fifth Symphony" is consid ered a model ot form, nnd its composer Is the cherished Idol of conservative and classicists. Pity I-'or Wenlfrn Satlon. The Chinese enjoy the grentext liber ty. The laws of tho western nation aro too numerous and too severe. Instances of their bondage may be given. All the children in the country are bound to ut (end school at n certain nge. When nn aulhoi wants to print a liook, he baa to nsk for a copyright, ltefore a man can sturt a newspaper ho must npply for n certificate from his government sanc tioning him to do so. There aro fixed regulations governing all companies and firms. All marriages must lie re ported to n certain department for reg istration. Thus there Is no liberty be tween husband and wife- Peking Sin Pao. Mlnlulorc Trent. The Japam-se art of making minia ture landscapes nnd gardens consist chiefly in starving tlm plant so as tu retard the circulation of Its sup or life giving Juices. Puiguson, who wbs one among the first of F.ngllsh adventurers 1o visit t bina and Japan, mentions 11e fact that he saw nt Canton "n boo libollt the bigness of n led.vcs sniiffo Imx, which did not contalno a llttyl dirt nnd sixteen tiny llttyl trees, foutv of which were In full blow, the whole bove, tree and nil so small that a man could put them III hS mouth together."
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers