1544 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 858

line of the District of Columbia; conferring powers and
imposing duties on the State Roads Commission; author-
izing the issuance of revenue bonds of the State, payable
solely from earnings, to pay the cost of such motorway,
providing that no debt of the State shall be incurred in the
exercise of any such powers; providing for the collection of
tolls for the payment of such bonds and for the cost of
maintenance, operation and repair of such motorway; pro-
viding for the pledging of such tolls; prescribing condi-
tions upon which such motorway shall become free; making
such bonds exempt from taxation; providing for condemna-
tion; providing alternate free routes; and authorizing the
issuance of revenue refunding bonds.

WHEREAS, portions of the highway system of the State are
seriously overburdened by the civilian and industrial traffic
using such portions of the highway system, and in particular
by the interstate traffic to and from the Nation's Capital and
the intrastate traffic between Baltimore City and the Nation's
Capital; and

WHEREAS, the serious overloading of the highways in the
State is a present and potential source of danger to life and
property, and an obstacle to the increased use thereof for
civilian and industrial traffic; and

WHEREAS, the existing highway system in the State is
inadequate to meet any future demands for the high speed
movement of troops and of defense, war and mechanical equip-
ment; and

WHEREAS, the State has recognized the handicap of sub-
stantial water areas in the State to rapid transportation and
as an aid to such rapid transportation and to the development
and growth of the State has provided the means for the con-
struction and financing of bridges and tunnels without any
contribution whatever from funds of the State, but from the
proceeds of sale of revenue bonds payable solely from tolls
and revenues to be paid by the users of the bridges and tunnels
so constructed; and

WHEREAS, the improvement of the highway system of the
State by the construction of modern bridges and tunnels is
only a partial solution of the problem of providing a highway
system adequate to eliminate existing dangers and existing
and potential insufficiencies; and

WHEREAS, the construction of a super-highway of the most
modern type embodying every known safety device including