3. Compel compliance with laws, rules and regulations relating to such highways and bridges by highway officers and see that the same are carried into full force and effect.

4. Aid district, county and town superintendents in establishing grades, preparing suitable systems of drainage and advise with them as to the construction, improvement and maintenance of highways and bridges.

5. Cause plans, specifications and estimates to be prepared for the repair and improvement of highways and the construction and repair of bridges, when requested so to do by a district, county or town superintendent.

6. Investigate and determine upon the various methods of road construction adapted to different sections of the state, and as to the best methods of construction and maintenance of highways and bridges.

7. Make an annual report to the legislature on or before February fifteenth stating the condition of the highways and bridges, the progress of the improvement and maintenance of state, county and town highways, the amount of moneys received and expended during the year, upon highways and bridges and in the administration of his office, and also containing such matters as in his judgment should be brought to the attention of the legislature, together with recommendations as to such measures in relation to highways as in his judgment the public interests require.

8. Compile statistics relating to the public highways throughout the state, and collect such information in regard thereto as he shall deem expedient.

9. Cause public meetings to be held at least once each year, in each district or county, for the purpose of furnishing such general information and instructions as may be necessary, regarding the construction, improvement or maintenance of the highways and bridges and the application of the highway law, and the rules and regulations of the department, and also for the purpose of hearing complaints. He shall notify the district or county superintendent of his intention to hold such meeting or meetings, specifying the date and the place thereof.

10. Aid at all times in promoting highway improvement throughout the state, and perform such other duties and have such other powers in respect to highways and bridges as may be imposed or conferred on him by law.

11. Approve and determine the final plans, specifications and estimates for state and county highways upon the receipt of the report and recommendations of the county or district superintendent, as provided herein, and transmit the same in the case of a county highway to the board of supervisors. After the approval of such plans, specifications and estimate by the board of supervisors and the return thereof to the commissioner of highways, in the case of a county highway and after his final determination in respect thereto in the case of a state highway, the commissioner of highways shall cause a contract to be let for the construction or improvement of such state or county highway after due advertise

ment.

12. Prepare tables showing the total number of miles of highways in the state, by town and county, and file a copy of the same in the office of the comptroller.

13. Divide the state into not more than nine divisions and assign a division engineer to the charge of each, subject to his direction, supervision and control. In making such division no county shall be divided.

14. Make and file with the comptroller a schedule of salaries of all officers, clerks, employees, engineers and superintendents, appointed by him, whose salaries are not fixed by law.

15. Inquire into the official conduct of all subordinates of the department.

16. Direct and cause to be made such repairs of state and county highways as he deems necessary, within the estimates and appropriations made therefor.

Amended by L. 1913, ch. 80.

§ 16. Division engineers. The commissioner of highways shall appoint a division engineer for each of the divisions of the state. Each person so appointed as division engineer shall be a practical civil engineer having had actual experience in the construction and maintenance of highways and bridges. The salary of such engineers shall be five thousand dollars per annum. An office may be maintained by such division engineers at a convenient place within each division as authorized by the commissioner of highways. The salary and expenses of such engineers shall be paid out of moneys appropriated therefor upon the requisition of the commissioner of highways. Each division engineer shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, take and subscribe the constitu

tional oath of office and execute an official undertaking in the sum of ten thousand dollars to be approved by and filed with the comptroller and renewed as often as the commissioner of highways may require. The commissioner of highways, subject to the provisions of the civil service law, may remove such division engineers.

§ 2. Nine thousand dollars ($9,000) are hereby appropriated from the general funds of the state to become available on July first, nineteen hundred and nineteen, for the purpose of paying the difference in salaries of nine division engineers for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and twenty.

Amended by L. 1911, ch. 646; L. 1913, ch. 80 and L. 1919, ch. 467.

17. Duties of division engineers. Each division engineer shall devote his entire time to the performance of his duties. He shall, under the direction and control of the commissioner of highways:

1. Make or cause to be made all surveys, maps, plans, specifications and estimates necessary or required for the improvement, construction and maintenance of state and county highways within the division for which he is appointed.

2. Examine, revise and approve all plans, specifications and estimates and proposals for the improvement, construction, and maintenance of highways and bridges within his division, which may be submitted by the commissioner of highways, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, or the rules and regulations of such commissioner.

3. Examine and inspect, or cause to be examined and inspected, the work performed on any highways, and report to the commissioner of highways as to whether the work has been done in accordance with the plans and specifications and contracts made therefor.

4. Approve and certify to the monthly estimates or allowances for work being performed under any contract let for the construc tion, improvement or maintenance of state and county highways.

5. Inspect, or cause to be inspected, all state and county highways, and report from time to time in respect thereto, when required by the commissioner of highways.

6. Consult with district, county and town superintendents and other highway officers in respect to the proper methods of constructing, improving and maintaining highways and bridges.

7. Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the commissioner of highways.

8. Have charge of the construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repair of state and county highways in his division, under the supervision of the deputy having jurisdiction thereof.

Amended by L. 1911, ch. 646 and L. 1913, ch. 80.

9. When the corners of the boundaries of counties, cities, villages and subdivision lots of towns shall have been located, as provided in subdivision nine of section thirty-three of this chapter, it shall be the duty of the division engineer to accurately set a monument at such corner, except in cases where the improvement of such highway or road has been completed prior to the location of such corner as provided in such subdivision. Such monument shall be of some durable material and shall be so set that the top thereof shall be on a level with the surface of such improved highway or road. The cost and expense of such monuments and the setting of the same shall be a state charge. Added by L. 1916, ch. 217.

§ 18. Salaries and expenses. All engineers, superintendents, clerks, officers and other employees of the department shall receive the compensation fixed by the commissioner of highways except as otherwise defined and established in this chapter. In the discharge of their official duties the commissioner of highways, deputies, secretary, engineers, and the clerks, officers and other employees of the department shall have reimbursed to them their necessary traveling expenses and disbursements. Such salaries and expenses shall be paid by the state treasurer upon the warrant of the comptroller, out of moneys appropriated therefor in the same manner as the salaries and expenses of other officers, clerks and employees are paid.

Amended by L. 1913, ch. 80.

§ 19. Appointment of officers, of officers, clerks and employees. The commissioner of highways shall appoint such resident engineers, district superintendents, clerks, officers and employees as may be required to carry out the provisions of this chapter, subject to the civil service laws and the provisions of this chapter, within the amount appropriated therefor, unless the appointment of such clerks, officers or employees is otherwise provided for herein. District superintendents, appointed as provided in this chapter, shall be appointed from lists prepared from examinations which

shall test their qualifications for the actual construction and maintenance of highways and their executive capacity, rather than their scientific attainments. Clerks, other than those employed in the principal office of the commissioner of highways, inspectors and other employees in the department whose duties pertain to the maintenance of highways, shall likewise be selected from lists prepared from examinations testing their general knowledge of the highway law and of the practical construction of highways. Inspectors of construction, other than engineers and levelers, shall be selected from lists similarly prepared, except that they shall be residents of the county within which the highway constructed or improved is located. To the end that the employees of the department of highways engaged in the work of constructing, improving or maintaining highways under the provisions of this chapter may be practical highway builders, the commissioner of highways is authorized to indicate to the civil service commission the relative value which should be given to experience and scientific attainments. The commissioner of highways, subject to the provisions of the civil service law, may remove the resident engineers, district superintendents, clerks, officers and employees of the department.

Amended by L. 1913, ch. 80.

§ 20. Blank forms and town accounts. The commissioner of highways shall prescribe and furnish blank forms of orders, reports and accounts and blank books, whenever in his judgment they are required for the convenience of his office and of highway officers.

Amended by L. 1913, ch. 80.

21. Examination of accounts and records. The commissioner of highways may, at such times as may be deemed expedient, cause an examination of all accounts and records kept as required by this chapter, and it shall be the duty of all county and town officers to produce all such records and accounts for examination and inspection, at any time on demand of a representative of the commissioner of highways.

Amended by L. 1913, ch. 80.

22. Condemnation of bridges. The commissioner of highways shall cause an inspection to be made of any bridge which is reported to be unsafe for public use and travel by the district or county superintendent, the town superintendent, or five residents