346

State Papers and Addresses

Following is a table showing the comparison of funds available to the
State Roads Commission, to the Counties and to Baltimore City for the fiscal
years 1941, 1942 and 1943. The increases in 1942 over 1941, and 1943 over 1942
are also shown.

1941

Appropria-
tions
State Roads

Commission............................ $8, 183, 373. 89

Counties...................................... 2, 892, 487. 00

Baltimore City.......................... 4, 175, 402. 00

1942

Governor's
Allowance

Increase

1942
over 1941

1943

Governor's
Allowance

Increase

1943
over 1942

$8, 261, 681. 44 $68, 207. 55

3, 196, 888. 28 304, 401. 28

4, 637, 477. 44 462, 075. 44

$8, 446, 189. 34 $194, 607. 90

3, 322, 429. 11 125, 540. 83

4, 766, 429. 63 128, 952. 19

$15, 251, 262. 89 $16, 085. 947. 16 $834, 684. 27 $16, 535, 048. 08 $449, 109. 92

The details of the calculations and the distribution of the road income are
found in the State Roads Commission section of the printed Budget.

The State Roads Commission, at present, possesses a large number of
automotive units of road machinery and passenger cars necessary for use in
the maintenance and construction of the road system, but it is found that the
Commission does not have adequate housing facilities properly to protect this
equipment, nor is there in existence the necessary number of shops economically
to repair and service this equipment.

It is a fact that the Commission does have a central mechanical shop on
Southern Avenue in Baltimore City, but it is not equipped as a modern repair
depot, nor does it provide adequate space for housing equipment. In addition,
it is at this location that the Commission carries on its sign manufacturing and
sign repair shop. The present location is in a residential area, and is not in
close proximity to the mechanical activities incident to road work. It is pro-
posed to erect a central shop to be established in a location best suited to the
demand for economical repairs to the mechanical units required in operation,
and provision has been made for an allocation of funds for this purpose of
1250, 000. 00 for the year 1942.

I have also included in the Budget for 1942 and 1943 a special appropria-
tion to safeguard portions of the roadways of the State System endangered by
sea water and for the protection of beaches. The provision to accomplish this,
is for an appropriation of $50, 000. 00 in 1942 and $30, 000. 00 in 1943.

Many portions of roadways embracing a large number of miles of roads in
several sections of the State, have been beneficially widened and improved
during the past two bienniums, with the assistance of prison labor. Aside
from the assistance to the Penal Institutions of the State, and the fact that such
action encourages a much wider State-use program of this type of employment,
it cannot be denied that much effective and essential road work has been ac-
complished. Therefore, provision has been made for an appropriation of $200, -
000. 00 for each of the fiscal years 1942 and 1943 to continue road work with
this type of labor.

During the period when the budgets for roads were of necessity greatly
reduced, due to the diversion of road funds to other than road purposes, in-
sufficient funds were available properly to maintain and reconstruct the roads
forming the State System. As a conequence of this neglect, the system