534 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [Ch. 372]

35A. The County Commissioners of the several counties of
the State, the Highways Commission thereof or other public
boards or officers having control over the public bridges and
culverts of said counties, the State Roads Commission in the
case of bridges and culverts under its control, the public boards
or officers having control over bridges between adjacent coun-
ties, turnpike or plank road companies, and bridge companies or
other individuals or corporations owning or controlling private
or quasi public bridges used by the public for compensation or
otherwise, shall have the power and right to regulate the weight
of wagons, trucks, road engines, road rollers, traction engines,
threshing machines or other vehicles of any kind passing over
such bridges and culverts, and the rate of speed of such vehicles
while passing over the same, by posting and maintaining con-
spicuously at both ends of or entrances to said bridges or cul-
verts signboards with lettering not less than three inches in
height, worded as follows, to wit: "Warning—Weight not to
exceed (here insert numerals) pounds. Speed not to exceed
(here insert numerals) miles per hour," which shall be taken
to mean that no vehicle of any kind, as above enumerated,
weighing, with or without any load which may be in or upon
the same, more than the number of pounds specified on said
signboard, shall pass or be drawn, driven, propelled or in any
other manner taken over said bridge or culvert, and that no
such vehicle of any kind as above enumerated shall pass or be
drawn, driven, propelled or in any other manner taken over said
bridge or culvert at a greater rate of speed than that specified on
said signboard; provided, however, that no such sign or signs
shall be posted as above without authority in writing from the
chief engineer of the State Roads Commission having first been
had and obtained; and it is hereby made the duty of said chief
engineer of the State Roads Commission, upon receiving a
request for such authority, to cause an investigation of the
carrying capacity of such bridge or culvert and to furnish to
the applicant his authority in writing to erect and maintain
signboards as aforesaid. Any individual, firm, co-partnership,
corporation or other person, whether the owner of such vehicle,
the person in charge and control over the same, or employee
or agent of any such, who shall draw, drive, propel or in any
other manner take or cause to be taken, drawn, driven or pro-
pelled over any such bridge or culvert posted as aforesaid any
wagon, truck, road engine, road roller, traction engine, thresh-
ing paachine or other vehicle of any kind, weighing, with or
without any load which may be in or upon the same, more than
number of pounds specified on the signboard so erected at