SURVEYOR AND STATE SURVEY. 2827

roads to be improved on or before May 1, 1909, and shall on or before that
date file with county commissioners of each county for public inspection a
certified copy of a map of the State showing plainly thereon the adopted
system of main roads to be improved under this act, which map shall bear
the written approval of the said commission. It may make all preliminary
investigations; and do all such preliminary work as shall, in the judg-
ment of such commission, precede the actual establishment, construction
and improvement of said system of roads and highways; adopt and employ
such means, methods or system of road construction, improvement and
development as may, in its judgment, be best calculated to promote the
objects of this act; condemn, lay out, open, establish, construct, extend,
widen, straighten, grade and improve, in any manner, any main road, of
the system, in any county of this State and establish or fix the width
thereof; cause to be prepared such surveys, plans, drawings or maps as
it may deem proper in the course of its work; acquire for the State of
Maryland, by agreement, gift, grant, purchase or condemnation proceed-
ings as prescribed by section 203 to 209 inclusive, or by section 331 to 337
inclusive of article 23 of the Annotated Code of Public General Laws, any
private road or roads whatsoever, or private property or rights of drainage
for public use, whether belonging to private individuals or to turnpike
companies or other corporations, and including any avenues, roads, lanes
or thoroughfares, rights or interests, franchises, privileges or easements,
that may be, in its judgment, desirable or necessary to complete said sys-
tem of roads to carry out the purpose of this act; contract with any person
or persons, company or corporation, either private or quasi-public, or
municipal, in furtherance of the duties and objects of this act or any of
the same; employ all necessary attorneys, consultants, agents, laborers,
help and assistants, skilled and unskilled, technical or professional, for
the promotion of any of the work with which it is charged hereunder,
make and enter into any and all contracts, agreements or stipulations ger-
mane to the scope of its duties and powers under this act; and purchase
all machines, machinery, tools, implements, appliances, supplies, ma-
terials and working agencies whatsoever which it may deem necessary- for
the full performance and completion of any of the powers conferred and
duties imposed upon said commission, or which may be germane to the
same or to the purposes and objects of this act, and where rights, ease-
ments and franchises of the United Railways and Electric Company of
Baltimore, its successors and assigns, exist upon any turnpike or private
right of way in the Annex which may be improved hereunder, then said
rights, easements and franchises may (if the mayor and city council of
Baltimore and said railways company, its successors and assigns fail to
agree upon terms of purchase or surrender) be condemned by the mayor
and city council of Baltimore under the provisions of chapter 274 of the
acts of 1904, and chapter 566 of the acts of 1906, or in the exercise of its
general powers of condemnation, the cost thereof to be defrayed out of
the loan provided for in said first mentioned act, or out of the ordinary
proceeds of municipal taxation; provided, however, that the provisions
of said act of 1906 shall be obligatory upon, and not discretionary with,