854                              Laws of Maryland                       [Ch. 590

(f)  Said County Commissioners shall make all necessary rules
and regulations, which shall have the force and effect as laws, gov-
erning the time and method of paying for labor engaged on the county
roads, the making of the payroll by the Road Engineer, and the books
of accounts to be kept by him. The said County Commissioners may
by their said rules and regulations require any person employed, or
to whom a contract has been let, by the said Road Engineer to give
bond conditioned upon the faithful discharge of their duties in such
penalty as may be prescribed therein, and the further power to alter,
repeal, modify and change said rules and regulations as they may
see fit.

(g)  All books and accounts in the office of the Road Engineer and
in the office of the County Commissioners shall be open to inspection
by any taxpayer of the County.

(h) All office expenses, costs of books, necessary filing devices and
stationery shall be paid out of the General Road and Bridge Fund
as hereinafter provided.

523. Same; sign-posts, contracts, regulations.

(a)  The County Commissioners of Washington County may, at
their discretion, have sign posts placed at road crossings or inter-
sections designating the distance to the nearest prominent point and
may give suitable names to the County roads and change the same
as they may see fit.

(b)   The said County Commissioners shall have the power to let
out the repair or maintenance of any road or portion of road by
contract, when, in the judgment of the said Road Engineer, such
course is deemed advisable, in which case preference shall be given,
where practicable, to the owners of the land directly interested, in
the proper care of such road or roads, and such work shall be done
under the supervision of the said Road Engineer.

(c)  All contracts made by the County Commissioners for the re-
pair or construction of roads or bridges shall be reduced to writing
and all payments thereunder shall be subject to the approval by the
Road Engineer of the work done under the contract.

(d) Whenever work on any road or bridge involves an outlay of
Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or more, plans and specifications
therefor may be prepared by the Road Engineer and bids therefor
may be prepared by the Road Engineer and bids for the work invited

by reasonable publication in such paper or papers as the County

Commissioners may designate; but it shall not be obligatory upon

the said County Commissioners to have any work done by contract

if it be found that the same can be done at less expense by direct

employment of the required labor or if in the opinion of the Road

Engineer and/or the Board of County Commissioners an emergency
exists of such nature as to require the speedy repair or reconstruction

of a county road, street, alley, highway or bridge or other construc-

tion in connection therewith.

(D) WHENEVER WORK ON ANY ROAD OR BRIDGE IN-
VOLVES AN OUTLAY OF FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS
($5,000.00) OR MORE, PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS THERE-
FOR SHALL BE PREPARED BY THE ROAD ENGINEER OR
SOMEONE DESIGNATED BY HIM, AND BIDS THEREFOR