Advisory Commission, the Water Front Commission and the Water
Resources Commission. The Department is under the direction of a
Commission of five members appointed by the Governor for terms of
five years. The term of one member expires each year. The Commis-
sion selects its own chairman and appoints the Director of the Depart-
ment. Those functions of the Department dealing with geology and
water resources are under the immediate supervision of the Director;
the supervision of the mining industry is charged to the Bureau of
Mines.

The Department has supervision of topographic, geologic, hydro-
graphic, and magnetic surveys. It prepares topographic, geologic and
such other maps as may be necessary to meet a specific need. Reports
on the extent and character of the State's mineral and water resources
are prepared by the Department. In cooperation with the United
States Government, surveys of the water resources of the State are
made. The agency investigates and recommends plans and policies for
the protection of the State's waterfront and waterways against
erosion. The Department has the further power to control and to
conserve, in so far as is practicable, the surface and underground
waters of Maryland; and to that end has jurisdiction over the con-
struction and repairs of reservoirs, dams, and other water-way ob-
structions. In order to carry out this function, the Department li-
censes all water well drillers in the State and issues a permit for each
well to be drilled. The Commission also has the power to promul-
gate and enforce such rules as may be necessary to conserve the
State's water resources and its oil and gas resources (Code 1951,
Art. 66C, secs. 15-17, 666-701).

Appropriations 1955 1956
General Fund ............................ $ 96,197 $102,604
Staff: 12.

BUREAU OF MINES

Frank J. Powers, Director
Mine Examining Board
Chairman: Frank J. Powers
Ellis Ellifretz, Miners; Arthur P. Hoffa, Sr. Operators

City Building, Westernport Telephone: Westernport 4031

The first Mine Inspectors were appointed by the Governor in 1878
serving in Allegany and Garrett Counties. These inspectors, func-
tioned independently, reporting only to the Governor, until 1916 when
they were placed within the Board of Labor and Statistics. The
inspection powers became a function of the Bureau of Mines upon its
organization in 1922 as a unit of the Department of Labor and Statis-
tics. Upon the organization of the Board of Natural Resources in
1941, the Bureau was transferred to the newly-created Department of
Geology, Mines and Water Resources. The director of the Bureau is
appointed by the Governor from a list of eligible persons certified by
the State Employment Commissioner. The Bureau of Mines is respon-
sible for the inspection of all mines within the State in order to
maintain proper sanitation, ventilation, and safety standards in all
mining operations. All persons or corporations engaging in open-pit
or strip mining operations are required to register with the Bureau
previous to the beginning of their operations and to report periodically
during such operations. The Bureau of Mines examines all applicants