950 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

of so many and such agents, superintendents, foremen, inspec-
tors, assistants, mechanics and laborers as may be found nec-
essary for the proper construction, care, improvement and
maintenance of the same, and to fix the rate of compensation
thereof. Said County Commissioners shall have full power to
determine how the roads of the county and any special road or
roads thereof may be worked, reparied, improved or main-
tained, and to regulate the wages that shall be paid employees
engaged in such work, and the prices to be paid for material
to be used on the same, and to provide for such clerical or
other assistance as may be required by them or the Montgom-
ery County Road Superintendent for the efficient performance
of their several duties. Said County Commissioners shall have
the power to let out the construction, repairs, maintenance or
improvement of any road or portion of a road by contract
when, in their judgment, such course 13 deemed advisable, in
which case preference shall be given, where practicable, to per-
sons directly interested in the proper care or improvement of
such road or roads. All contracts made by the County Com-
missioners for the repair or construction of roads or bridges,
or for materials to be used therein or thereon, shall be reduced
to writing and filed for record with the Clerk to said County
Commissioners. Whenever work on any road or bridge in-
volves an outlay of five hundred dollars ($500) or more, plans
and specifications therefor shall be prepared by or under the
direction of said Road Superintendent, and bids for the work
invited by reasonable publication; but it shall not be obliga-
tory upon said County Commissioners to have such work done
by contract if it be found, after receiving bids therefor, that
the same can be done more cheaply by direct employment of
required labor. All material and supplies to be used on the
roads and bridges involving a cost of more than two hundred
and fifty dollars (|250) shall be contracted for after request-
ing bids for the same by reasonable publication in the county
papers as the said Commissioner may designate. All said ma-
terials and supplies shall be subject to the approval of the
County Road Superintendent. Said County Commissioners
shall purchase all stone-crushers, rollers, scrapers and road
material, equipment and appliances required for use in con-
nection with such roads. Said County Commissioners shall
and may adopt all necessary and reasonble rules, regulations
and orders with reference to the proper care, repair, improve-
ment, construction and maintenance of the county roads and
bridges, and shall have power to make all such rules and reg-
ulations with reference to the use of the roads, streets, ave-
nues, lanes, alleys and bridges of the county by telephone and
telegraph companies, steam railroad and street railway com-