provisions which may become a part of the contract. Through the
maintenance division, the Commission provides the necessary resurfac-
ing, drainage and snow removal of the highways included in the
State's system. The agency, through its Materials Division conducts
and makes tests of all materials used in the construction and main-
tenance of the highways and bridges and in the maintenance of the
Ferry System. A traffic survey division is also maintained by the
Commission for the purpose of making traffic counts, traffic origin
and destination surveys, and such other surveys as are necessary to
determine the need of highway improvement through rerouting, widen-
ing, straightening, or clearance of sight obstacles; as well as to deter-
mine the need for traffic signals, warning signs, and destination
markers. The department also prepares state and individual County
road maps. It has also made two extensive city traffic surveys one in
Baltimore City and the other in Hagerstown..

Five Year Highway Program.

The General Assembly of 1947 authorized a five year highway im-
provement and construction program beginning in 1948. This pro-
gram contemplates the expenditure of approximately $40,000,000 each
year during the five year period. The Legislature further authorized
the issuance of Revenue Bonds for the purpose of constructing toll
bridges, tunnels, and roads and to consolidate the income from any
two or more projects to the support of the bond debt. The selection
of the route as a toll road or the project as a toll bridge must be
made in accordance with the specific provisions of the law (Code
1947, Art. 89B, secs. 122A-122U)..

ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Chairman: Chester F. Hockley.

J. Truman Thompson, T. Howard Duckett, J. McKenney
Willis, Jr., J. Vincent Jamison, Jr., Herman L. Gruber..

The Advisory Council on Highway Construction was appointed by
the Governor in October 1947 to consult and advise with the members
of the State Roads Commission in the planning of the construction
of highways which are projected under the five-year program and to
aid the Commission in such other matters under its supervision as it
may deem necessary..

Financing the State Roads System.

The State Roads Commission administers all financial transactions
relative to the operation and construction of the highway network
under its jurisdiction. The Construction of new roads is financed
from a portion of the Commission's 50 per cent of the gasoline tax,
and the titling tax, together with regular Federal funds and special
Federal appropriations made available for the construction of high-
ways and bridges, and contributions from the Counties. The State
Roads Commission also receives 50 per cent of the net registration
fees collected. The participating share of the State Roads Commission
of the gasoline taxes (50 per cent) and the titling excise tax (100
per cent) will become a consolidated fund, usable solely for the debt
service on an authorized issue of one hundred million of Highway
Construction Bonds, the proceeds from the latter to be used for the
construction of certain types of projects under certain conditions,.