HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 751

payer of the County shall offer to haul stone or other hard
material upon any public road of his district at the price paid
for the same on such road or in such locality, the County
Commissioners or road supervisor of the district shall give
such taxpayer the preference, provided such stone or other
hard material is in condition for spreading on the road when
hauled, if so required by the County Commissioners or road
supervisor for the district, and that its quality is approved
by the Roads Engineer for use on the road upon which it is
proposed to be used. All contracts made by the County Com-
missioners for the repair or construction of roads or bridges
or for materials to be used on the roads shall be reduced to
writing and all payments thereunder shall be subject to the
approval by the Roads Engineer of the work done or materials
furnished under such contract. Whenever work on any road
or bridge involves an outlay of one thousand dollars
or more, plans and specifications therefor shall be prepared
by the Roads Engineer and bids for work invited by reasonable
publication in such papers as the Commissioners may desig-
nate; but it shall not be obligatory upon the said Commission-
ers 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 shall be con-
tracted for after requesting bids for the same by reasonable
publication in the county papers, as the said Commissioners
may designate; all such material and supplies to be subject
to the approval of the Roads Engineer. Said Commissioners
shall have all stone crushers, rollers, scrapers and road ma-
terials and appliances now in the possession of the Highways
Commission of Baltimore County for use in connection with
said roads and all other property whatsoever now held by the
County Commissioners of Baltimore County as the Highways
Commission of Baltimore County, and may in their descretion
purchase additions thereto. The County Commissioners of
Baltimore County shall and may adopt all necessary and
reasonable rules, regulations and orders with reference to the
proper care, repair, improvement, construction and main-
tenance of the county roads and bridges, and shall have power
to make all such rules and regulations with reference to the
use of the roads, streets, avenues, lanes, alleys and bridges of
the county by telephone and telegraph companies, steam rail-
road and street railway companies, gas, water and electric
light companies, and similar uses thereof, as said Commis-
sioners may consider necessary for the proper protection of
said roads, streets, avenues, lanes, alleys and bridges of the
county and the rights of the public therein, and impose reason-