1262

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

required, the board may cause such improvements to be made,
with the assent and approval of the Connty Commissioners
first had ; provided, that the estimated cost of all. permanent
improvements made under this Act in any one year shall not
be more than one-half of road tax in such district for the last
preceding year; said petitions shall be presented at a meeting
of the Board of County Commissioners, and thereupon such
board shall direct such investigation as may be necessary to
inform them as to the utility and probable cost of the pro-
posed improvement, and may for that purpose order a pre-
liminary survey, and shall determine what highways or parts
of highways designated in such petition shall oe so improved,
and shall estimate the probable amount of money that will
be required to complete such improvement, and how much can
be reasonably provided therefor. It shall be necessary for the
board in such case to declare by resolution their intention to
cause such improvement to be made, and they shall cause all
necessary surveys of such road or section to be made, and
specifications for a macadam, telford or other equally good per-
manent road, as determined to be improved to be prepared,
and shall then proceed in the same manner as provided and
required in section 203 F.
203 B. At their regular November and April sessions in each

Amount of
fund avail-
able.

year the County Board of Road Commissioners shall ascertain
what amount of said fund is or shall be available for expendi-
ture during the ensuing season in permanent improvements
ordered in their respective districts, and shall apportion such
available fund, as nearly as may be, to the several highways
upon which improvements have been ordered ; but no part
thereof shall be set apart for the benefit of any highway on
which the work of permanent improvement has not been com-
menced until sufficient provision shall have been made for the
completion of the work upon highways already begun. The
said Board of County Commissioners may provide for the pay-
ment of the cost of such permanent improvement by appor-
tioning the cost thereof among the several districts in propor-
tion as in their judgment and discretion the one or more
districts are benefited by such permanent improvements.

Employ an
engineer or
surveyor.

203 C. The County Board of Road Commissioners may
employ a competent engineer or surveyor, at the same com-
pensation allowed the county surveyor, to survey the county
roads, or any part thereof, when such work is necessary ; and
to prepare specifications for culverts or other improvements
intended to be made in pursuance of this Act, and to supervise
the work and materials used.