The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-12-26
MARYLAND BAY SPAN
Commission Urges Legislature
Create Permanent Board
For Work

FOR WOrK
Creation by the Legislature of a
department in the State government
Ito be known as the Maryland
Bridge Commission deal with
such projects as a Chesapeake Bay
bridge, is recommended in the pre-
liminary report of the State Bay
Bridge Commission, submitted Fri
day to members for approval.
| The proposed permanent commits
sion, under the plans contained in
the report, would be unpaid and the
members would be drafted from
leaders in industrial, financial and
engineering circles.
1t would have in cooperation
with the State Roads Commission,
supervision of the development of a
Statewide policy for the construc-
tion of toll bridges over the Chesa-
peake Bay and other Maryland water
ways. To either this bridge COM
mission or to the State Roads Com
mission power would be granted to
issuSyand sell bonds without pledg-
ing the credit of the State.
The report has not been adopted
as the final statement of the tempo
rary commission to the Governor
and the Legislature. 1t was draft
ed by the committee on program aud
procedure of the Governors inves-
tigating body and submitted to the
general membership of the COM
mission.
In brief, the recommendations
with regard to the establishment of
the permanent commission are as
follows:
That the Legislature authorize the
Governor of the State to appoint a
Maryland Bridge Commission, sim
liar in composition to the Port of
New York Authority, composed Of
leading citizens OF the State, whose
judgment and advice will command
the confidence and respect of all
Marylanders and investors in this
and other States.
! That the commission have author
ity to employ one of the best en-
gineers available, and that it have
an efficient secretary and such other
office force as necessary, and that
the expenses of the commission so
far as they are not payble out of
bond proceeds, be paid from the
gasoline tax.
That either the Maryland Bridge
Commission or the State Roads Com
mission will be given authority to
issue aud sell bonds to provide costs
of construction of bridge, the
length of life of the bonds not to ex-
coed 40 years; the bonds to be ex-
empt from Federal, State or local
taxation and in no way involve the
credit of the State or of either COM
mission, but to be payable solely out
of the gross tolls and revenue re-
ceived from the operation of the
bridge.
This plan is basically similar to the
law which authorizes the State High
ways Commission of Kentucky to
build and acquire bridges.
With reference to the cost of this
proposed bridge the report says:
1--WE have no official figures on the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Company's
estimated cost of this structure, nor
have we at present its traffic ex-
pert's reports. Current rumor as
to the estimated cost of this bridge is
$40, 900 or $11,OOO,OOO. Private
capital apparently believes it can. at
this price, erect and operate bridge
with profit. To do this it is clear
that its estimated tolls must be from
81, 900, 900 to 81, 200, 900 at the outset,
and in later years $500, 600 per an
num-"
Financial backing, however, has
been lacking because of the present
condition of the bond market, ac-
cording to reports, and recently SEN
ator Tyding introduced a bill in the
Senate providing for an extension of
time on the Federal Government per-.
| NIT for construction and ..or,,nla4;o,,