1474 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [Ch. 790]

Said county commissioners shall have full power to determine
how the roads of the county and any special road or roads
thereof may be worked, repaired, improved or maintained, and
to regulate the wages that shall be paid employees engaged in
such work, and the prices to be paid for material to be used on
the same, and to provide for such clerical or other assistance
as may be required by them or the Montgomery County Road
Superintendent for the efficient performance of their several
duties. Said county commissioners shall have the power to let
out the construction, repairs, maintenance or improvement of
any road or portion of a road by contract when, in their judg-
ment, such course is deemed advisable, in which case preference
shall be given, where practicable, to persons directly interested
in the proper care or improvement of such road or road's. All
contracts made by the county commissioners for the repair or
construction of roads or bridges, or for materials to be used
therein or thereon, shall be reduced to writing and filed for
record with the clerk to said county commissioners. Whenever
work on any road or bridge involves an outlay of five hundred
dollars ($500) or more, plans and specifications therefor shall
be prepared by or under the direction of said road superintend-
ent, and bids for the work invited by reasonable publication;
but it shall not be obligatory upon said county commissioners
to have such work done by contract if it be found, after receiv-
ing bids therefor, that the same can be done more cheaply by
direct employment of required labor. All material and supplies
to be used on the roads and bridges involving a cost of more
than two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) shall be contracted
for after requesting bids for the same by reasonable publica-
tion in the county papers as the said commissioner may desig-
nate. All said materials and supplies shall be subject to the
approval of the county road superintendent. Said county com-
missioners shall purchase all stone-crushers, rollers, scrapers
and road material, equipment and appliances required for use
in connection with such roads. Said county commissioners
shall and may adopt all necessary and reasonable rules, regula-
tions and orders with reference to the proper care, repair,
improvement, construction and maintenance of the county roads
and bridges, and shall have power to make all such rules and
regulations with reference to the use of the roads, streets, ave-
nues, lanes, alleys and bridges of the county by telephone and
telegraph companies, steam railroad and street railway com-
panies, gas, water and electric light companies, and similar uses
thereof as the said county commissioners may consider necessary
for the proper protection of said roads, streets, avenues, lanes,