John B. Funk, Director of Highways
Charles R. Pease, Secretary

Albert S. Gordon, Executive Assistant to the Chairman
David H. Fisher, Chief Engineer
Carl L. Wannen, Comptroller
Joseph D. Buscher, Special Assistant Attorney General

300 W. Preston Street, Baltimore 1 Telephone: 837-9000
(Mailing address—P. 0. Box 717, Baltimore 3)

The State first took action to improve Maryland roads in 1898, when
the General Assembly ordered the Maryland Geological Survey Com-
mission to make a survey of State roads and write a report. In 1904
the first law authorizing State aid for road building put this program
under the supervision of the Highway Division of the Survey Commis-
sion, which performed this function until the creation of the State
Roads Commission by Chapter 141, Acts of 1908. The State Roads
Commission now consists of seven members appointed by the Governor
for terms of four years. The Chairman of the Commission, also known
as the Director of Highways, is appointed from the State at large.
One member is appointed from Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent,
Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, or Worcester County; one
from Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, or St. Mary's County; one from
Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, or Washington County; one
from Montgomery or Prince George's County; one from Baltimore,
Harford, or Howard County; and one from the City of Baltimore. At
least two of the members must belong to whichever of the two lead-
ing political parties in the State is not the party of the Governor.
The Chairman holds office at the pleasure of the Governor.

The Director of Highways has exclusive jurisdiction over the loca-
tion, construction, geometrics, design, and maintenance of the high-
ways that embrace the Interstate and the Primary systems of high-
ways. He has authority to confer with and conclude agreements with
the Bureau of Public Roads and other agencies of the United States
government, representatives of other States, and other agencies within
this State on all questions relating to all highways on the Interstate
and Primary systems. The Director also has jurisdiction over the
engineering and right-of-way departments of the Commission and the
Commission's entire administrative organization. From time to time
he calls upon the other members of the Commission individually or
jointly for advice.

The Commission, meeting jointly, formulates policy relating to loca-
tion, type, design, construction, and maintenance of the Secondary
system of highways. The Commission member from the area where
the secondary road under consideration is located must inform the
other members of the Commission of local conditions affecting these
decisions. Once the policy for each road has been set, the Director of
Highways undertakes its construction and maintenance.

The Commission recommends any over-all highway improvement
program to the Governor and Legislature; and meeting jointly, it also
recommends plans for highway financing. The Commission determines
the extent to which consulting engineers are employed on the entire
State Highway System, but the Director of Highways has sole power
to select such engineers. The Commission also determines the general
working conditions and salary recommendations for its employees. The
Director of Highways carries out all policies determined by the Com-
mission and performs all its actions, including the execution of con-
tracts, agreements, and other documents.

The State Highway system is divided into primary and secondary
highways. The official State highway map published by the State Roads
Commission constitutes the basis for distinguishing the two. Highways