DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY, MINES AND WATER
RESOURCES

The Commission

Chairman: Arthur B. Stewart, 1962
Harry K. Hall, 1960; C. Victor Cushwa, 1961;
Richard W. Cooper, 1963; John C. Geyer, 1964.
Joseph T. Singewald, Jr., Director

The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore 18
Telephone: Belmont 5-0771

The Department of Geology, Mines, and Water Resources was estab-
lished in 1941 to supersede the State Geological and Economic Survey
Advisory Commission, the Water Front Commission, and the Water
Resources Commission. The Department is directed by a five-man
Commission appointed by the Governor for five-year terms, one term
expiring each year. The Commission selects its own chairman and
appoints the Director of the Department. The Director supervises
activities that deal with geology and water; the Bureau of Mines super-
vises the mining industry.

The Department supervises topographic, geologic, hydrographic, and
magnetic surveys. It prepares topographic, geologic, and such other
maps as may be necessary to meet a specific need. It makes reports on
the extent and character of the State's mineral and water resources.
In cooperation with the United States Government, it makes surveys
of the water resources of the State. It investigates and recommends
plans and policies for the protection of the State's waterfront and
waterways against erosion. In addition, the Department controls and
conserves, insofar as is practicable, the surface and underground
waters of Maryland; and to that end has jurisdiction over the con-
struction and repairs of reservoirs, dams, and other waterway obstruc-
tions. It licenses all water well drillers in the State and issues a permit
for each well to be drilled. The Commission also makes and enforces
rules to conserve the State's oil and gas resources (Code 1957, Art.
66C, sees. 15-17, 675-95, 718-55).

Appropriations 1959 1900

General Funds . $97,580 $101,452
Special Funds - 10,300 12,125

Total . $107,880 $113,577
Staff: 7.

BUREAU OF MINES
Frank J. Powers, Director
City Building, Westernport Telephone: Westernport FL 9-4031

The first Mine Inspectors were appointed by the Governor in 1878
to serve in Allegany and Garrett counties. These inspectors func-
tioned independently, reporting only to the Governor, until 1916, when
they were placed within the Board of Labor and Statistics. The inspec-
tion powers became a function of the Bureau of Mines upon its
organization in 1922 as a unit of the Department of Labor and Statis-
tics. When the Board of Natural Resources was organized in 1941, the
Bureau was transferred to the newly created Department of Geology,
Mines and Water Resources. The Director of the Bureau is appointed
by the Governor from a list of eligible persons certified by the State