310 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

of the City actually require such an improvement, and by the
last named Board with such opinion attached to said ordinance
it shall be sent to the Board of Estimates for its opinion, in
writing, as to the probable cost of the same and whether the
financial condition of the City will justify such an expenditure.
No further action with regard to said ordinance shall be taken
by the City Council until said reports have been made and sub-
mitted to both Branches of the City Council and read and en-
tered on the respective journals of said Branches. It shall be
the duty of both of the said Boards to promptly make the said
reports, and the Board of Estimates shall return the same at-
tached to said ordinance to the City Council.

86. The City Engineer, who shall be the head of the first
sub-department of Public Improvements, shall be appointed by
the Mayor in the mode prescribed in section 25 of this Article,
and hold his office as therein provided. He shall have control
and supervision of the streets, highways, lanes and alleys of the
City of Baltimore, both as to their construction, paving and
curbing. He shall construct all sewers, unless otherwise pro-
vided by ordinance. He shall be a civil engineer in the active
practice of his profession for five years, and one who has had
responsible charge of work for at least that length of time. He
shall perform all the duties heretofore performed by the City
Commissioner unless otherwise provided in this Article. He
shall receive a salary of four thousand dollars per annum, pay-
able monthly, and perform such other duties as may be pre-
scribed by ordinances not inconsistent with this Article. He
shall have power to appoint such subordinates as he may re-
quire, and fix their compensation, not, however, to exceed in
number or compensation the limits fixed by ordinance.

87. The Water Board shall be the head of the second sub-
department of Public Improvements, and shall have charge of
the water supply to the inhabitants of the City of Baltimore,
and shall consist of five persons appointed by the Mayor in
the manner prescribed in section 25 of this Article, and hold
their offices as therein provided. One of said five persons,
who shall be the President of said Board and known as the
Water Engineer, and so named by the Mayor, shall be a civil