Section 247. Refusal to repair bridges

Whenever any such bridge shall have
  been or shall be so out of repair as to render it unsafe  for  travelers
  to  pass  over  the  same, or whenever any such bridge shall have fallen
  down, or been swept  away  by  a  freshet  or  otherwise,  if  the  town
  superintendent  of  the adjoining town or towns, after reasonable notice
  of such condition of the bridge, have neglected  or  refused,  or  shall
  neglect or refuse to repair or rebuild it, then whatever funds have been
  or  shall be necessarily or reasonably laid out or expended in repairing
  such bridge or in rebuilding the same, by  any  person  or  corporation,
  shall be a charge on such adjoining town or towns, each being liable for
  its  just  proportion;  and  the person or corporation who has made such
  expenditure, or shall make such expenditures, may apply to  the  supreme
  court, at a special term, for an order requiring such towns severally to
  reimburse such expenditures, which application shall be made upon papers
  to  be served upon the town superintendents of such towns at least eight
  days prior thereto; and the court may  grant  an  order  requiring  each
  adjoining  town  or towns to pay its just proportion of the expenditure,
  specifying the same; and the town superintendent of each of  such  towns
  shall  forthwith  serve a copy of such order upon the supervisor of each
  of their towns, who shall present the same to the board of  supervisors,
  at  their  next annual meeting. The board of supervisors shall raise the
  amount charged upon each town by the order, and cause  the  same  to  be
  collected  and  paid  to  such  persons  or  corporation as incurred the
  expenditure. The order shall be appealable.