The rural municipalities were created to provide a civic government to rural residents, such as police, health, and fire protection, education, as well as bridge and road maintenance and construction. The early roads in Saskatchewan began as dirt roads along the township and range roads surveyed by the Dominion Government land surveyors around homestead allotments. 2 and 4 horse teams would plow and grade these roads before graders and scrapers were bought by the various rural municipalities. The RM would also hire crews to maintain the road ditches, and keep the roads clear of snow during the winter months. Joint funding with the provincial government and RMs provided oil surfacing and asphalt highway surfaces.