ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR. 229

when in the opinion of said Commissions the purchase of
existing bridges or the construction of new ones as afore-
said should be. paid for in this manner, and to make such
bridges and approaches thereafter free of toll; to provide
for the payment of one-half of the cost of repair, operation
and maintenance of such bridges from funds appropriated
for the maintenance of roads and bridges in the State high-
way system.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That the State Roads Commission of Maryland be
and it is hereby authorized and empowered to join with the
State of West Virginia, to purchase and acquire existing inter-
state highway bridges and approaches over the Potomac River
or to erect new bridges over said river when in the opinion
of said Commissions such action on their part to either pur-
chase existing bridges or construct new ones, is necessary,
and to pay one-half of the purchase price or the construction
price thereof out of funds appropriated for the construction
of roads and bridges in the State highway system, provided
the State of West Virginia shall pay the other one-half. Title
to such bridges and approaches so purchased or erected shall
be vested jointly in the State of Maryland and the State of
West Virginia, in each an undivided one-half interest.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the State Roads
Commission of Maryland be and it is hereby authorized and
empowered to provide for the charge and collection of tolls
over said bridges and approaches so purchased or erected at
such rate of toll as may be agreed on by said Commissions
or which may be prescribed by any Board or Commission hav-
ing power to fix such rates of toll, and for the application of
the tolls collected, after the payment of the cost of collection,
on the purchase price or cost of erection of such bridge or
bridges and approaches thereto, until said purchase price or
cost of erection and interest thereon is fully paid, provided
that thereafter such bridges and approaches shall be free of
tolls.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the State Roads
Commission of Maryland be and it is hereby authorized and
empowered to provide for the payment of one-half of the cost
of repair, operation and maintenance of such bridge or bridges
and approaches thereto, if such bridges are acquired or erected