In the several counties of this commonwealth, where by existing laws the duty of laying out public roads or highways is imposed upon the supervisors or commissioners of roads and highways of the respective townships, it shall be the duty of said supervisors or commissioners whenever they have decided to report in favor of laying out a road, to notify the auditors of the said township of such decision; and thereupon the said supervisors or commissioners together with said auditors, shall endeavor to obtain releases from claims for damages as is provided in the act to which this is a supplement,¹ and upon their failure to procure such releases from all the persons through whose improved land they have decided to lay out a road, it shall be their duty to assess the damages, if any have been sustained by the persons not releasing as aforesaid, and to file the same and all releases obtained with their report in favor of opening said road with the clerk of the proper township; and any person interested who may feel aggrieved by the assessment of damages to him, may at any time after said reports have been filed and within thirty days after said road has been opened, appeal from said assessment of damages to him in the manner now provided by law: Provided, however, That whenever a continuous road or highway through different townships is laid out, said releases shall be obtained or damages assessed by the supervisors or commissioners and auditors of the township in which the improved land lies through which said road or highway is laid.