892 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

other purposes usually. subserved by a water works or water
works system, and to this end said Burgess and Commissioners
of Hancock are authorized and empowered to adopt a system
or plan for a water works, or system of water works; to contract
for, and purchase in fee simple or lease for a term of any num-
ber of years, exceeding the period of fifteen years if deemed
desirable, any land, real estate, spring, brook, water or water-
course; to dig, bore and sink wells; to erect and maintain a
reservoir or reservoirs, a storage dam or storage dams, and a
standpipe, or standpipes; to lay and maintain pipes and con-
duits; to erect and maintain fire-plugs; to purchase all proper
machinery, appliances, supplies and material to be used in build-
ing, constructing, operating or maintaining said water works
or system of water works, or repairing the same, or extending
and enlarging or improving the same; to employ all necessary
labor; to engage the services of engineers, superintendents, or

foremen, or other persons of skill or special knowledge in the
designing, construction, repair, extension, enlargement, improve-
ment, or operation of said water works or system of water
works; to connect any and all springs, brooks, waters, or water-
courses, wells, reservoirs, storage dams, standpipes, pipes, con-
duits, fire-plugs and machinery or appliances, acquired, dug,
constructed, laid or placed by said Burgess and Commissioners
of Hancock into a water works or system of water works for the
purposes above set forth, to do and perform all things necessary
and proper to carry out the aforegoing powers and others inci-

dent thereto so that said powers may be adequately and amply

executed. The said Burgess and Commissioners are authorized
and empowered, in their discretion, to let out the whole or any
part of the work involved in the construction of said water
works, or system of water works, as said Burgess and Commis-
sioners may deem the best interest of the town of Hancock.

In exercising the aforegoing powers in the construction, opera-
tion, maintenance, repair, extension, enlargement and improve-
ment of said water works or system of water works, the Burgess
and Commissioners of Hancock may exercise said powers and
any other powers conferred by this Act on, upon, or over lands

beyond the corporate limits of the town of Hancock, and said
Burgess and Commissioners of Hancock may also in addition,
supply water to persons, corporations, firms or establishments
for manufacturing, industrial and domestic purposes in the
vicinity of Hancock and not within the corporate limits thereof,
provided that the water so supplied to such persons corpora-
tions, firms or establishments beyond said corporate limits shall