J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor 167

Commission shall not make policy determinations relating to high-
way locations, schedulings, substitutions and priorities without first
consulting and conferring with local area and municipal government
officials. The said Commission shall reach its conclusions as to the
selection of the roads to be improved on or before May 1, 1909, and
and shall on or before that date file with county commissioners of
each county for public inspection a certified copy of a map of the State
showing plainly thereon the adopted system of main roads to be
improved under this article, which map shall bear the written ap-
proval of the said Commission. It may make all preliminary investi-
gations; and do all such preliminary work as shall, in the judgment
of such Commission, precede the actual establishment, construction
and improvement of said system of roads and highways; adopt and
employ such means, methods or system of road construction, im-
provement and development as may, in its judgment, be best calcu-
lated to promote the objects of this article; condemn, lay out, open,
establish, construct, extend, widen, straighten, grade and improve,
in any manner, any main road, of the system, in any county of this
State and establish or fix the width thereof; cause to be prepared
such surveys, plans, drawings, or maps as it may deem proper in the
course of its work; acquire for the State of Maryland, by agreement,
gift, grant, purchase or condemnation proceedings as prescribed by
§§ 193, and 195 to 200, inclusive, or by §§ 334, 339 and 340 [to 340,
inclusive, ] of Article 23 of the Annotated Code of Public General
Laws, or as prescribed by the provisions of Article 33A of the An-
notated Code of Public General Laws, any private road or roads
whatsoever, or private property or rights of drainage for public
use, whether belonging to private individuals or to turnpike com-
panies or other corporations, and including any avenues, roads, lanes
or thoroughfares, rights or interests, franchises, privileges or ease-
ments, that may be, in its judgment, desirable or necessary to
complete said system of roads to carry out the purpose of this article;
contract with any person or persons, company or corporation, either
private or quasi-public, or municipal, in furtherance of the duties
and objects of this article or any of the same; employ all necessary
attorneys, consultants, agents, laborers help and assistants, skilled
and unskilled, technical or professional, for the promotion of any of
the work with which it is charged hereunder, make and enter into any
and all contracts, agreements or stipulations germane to the scope
of its duties and powers under this article; and purchase all ma-
chines, machinery, tools, implements, appliances, supplies, materials
and working agencies whatsoever which it may deem necessary for
the full performance and completion of any of the powers conferred
and duties imposed upon said Commission, or which may be germane
to the same or to the purposes and objects of this article, and where
rights, easements and franchises of the United Railways and Elec-
tric Company of Baltimore, its successors and assigns, exist upon
any turnpike or private right of way in the annex which may be im-
proved hereunder, then said rights, easements and franchises may
(if the mayor and city council of Baltimore and said railways com-
pany, its successors and assigns fail to agree upon terms of pur-
chase or surrender) be condemned by the mayor and city council
of Baltimore under the provisions of Chapter 274 of the Acts of
1904, and Chapter 566 of the Acts of 1906, or in the exercise of
its general powers of condemnation, the cost thereof to be defrayed
out of the loan provided for in said first-mentioned act, or out of the