WM. PRESTON LANE, JR., GOVERNOR. 1793

thereof. Whenever such work at any one location involves
an estimated outlay of Five Thousand Dollars ($5, 000. 00), or
more, plans and specifications therefor shall be prepared by
the Chief Sanitary Engineer of the Metropolitan District,
and bids for such work shall be invited by reasonable
publication in such papers as the Commissioners may
designate; but said Commissioners shall not be bound
to have such work done by contract if it is found after
receiving bids therefor that the same can be done at a
lower cost by direct employment of the required labor. No
water or sewer lines or systems, or any part thereof, shall
be constructed except upon the written recommendation of
the Chief Sanitary Engineer. Before making his recommen-
dation in writing with respect to the construction or exten-
sion of any water or sewer lines or systems, or any parts
thereof, the Chief Sanitary Engineer shall make a thorough
field inspection of the territory proposed to be served by the
new construction or extension, and shall prepare sufficient
plans upon which to make an adequate cost estimate of the
proposed construction or extension, together with conserva-
tive estimates in writing of the revenues to be expected there-
from by assessments and charges of any kind authorized by
this Act. Such plans and estimates shall accompany his
written recommendations and shall be filed by him in the
office of the Commissioners. If said plans and estimates fail
to show that the proposed new construction or extension will
be financially self-supporting within a reasonable time after
completion, the Commissioners shall not order the construc-
tion of said new lines or extensions, unless property owners
requesting them shall finance their cost upon a basis that
will make them a permanently self-supporting part of the
Metropolitan District. The requirement that a project be
financially self-supporting shall not apply to any exercise by
the Commissioners of the general powers and authority to
establish, construct and maintain facilities conferred upon
them by Section 329, provided the Chief Sanitary Engineer
finds that: (a) the cost or expense involved in the exercise
of such power and authority is not readily or fairly sus-
ceptible of allocation among property owners in the affected
area in accordance with the terms of Section 325, and (b)
the exercise of such power and authority is for a purpose
necessary and useful to the operation or maintenance of a
water system, sewer system, or part thereof, constructed or
to be constructed in the Baltimore County Metropolitan Dis-
trict.

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