258

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

accrue to such owner or occupant thereof, and ascertain what
amount in value or benefit will thereby accrue to any lot or
parcel of ground, by or through which the same may pass
or improvements made, or any other property, or to the
owner or occupant thereof, and which the said lot or parcel
of ground, or the owner or occupant thereof, ought to pay.
They shall locate boundaries and prepare an explanatory map
giving descriptions of the street or alley opened, closed,
extended, widened, straightened or improved, with each
Separate lot or parcel of ground deemed to have sustained
damages or received benefits, and they shall, within ten days,
return to the Board of Commissioners, such maps, together
with the amount of damages awarded to such owner or occu-
pants, and the amount of benefits assessed to any lot or parcel
of ground or the owner thereof, together with a certificate of
their qualification, which may be ratified or rejected, or
altered or amended, in whole, or in part, by said Board of
Commissioners; provided, that the Board of Commissioners
shall give ten days' notice, at least, by publication in one of
the county papers, published in Wicomico County, or by ten
days' notice, at least, in writing, to each property owner so
interested, of the time set for the final action or return of said
examiners, and said Board of Commissioners shall act on said
return within twenty days after the expiration of said notice,
and may issue a new commission, as in their judgment may
seem proper; and before actually proceeding to open, widen,
extend, straighten or close up any such street or alley, the
Board of Commissioners shall pay, or tender to the person,
his agent, guardian or representative, the amount of damages

May
appeal to
Circuit court.

so awarded; and if any one should feel aggrieved by the
decision of the Board of Commissioners, in any matter affected
by their decision, he may appeal to the Circuit Court for
Wicomico County, by giving written notice within twenty
days from said decision, filed with the clerk of the Board of
Commissioners, of his desire to appeal; and on the filing of
said notice, it shall be the duty of the clerk to deliver the
papers connected therewith to the clerk of said court, and the
same proceedings shall be had on the appeal as in cases of
appeal from judgment of justice of the peace; provided,
nevertheless, that the Board of Commissioners may decline
to open, lay out, extend, widen, grade or straighten any
street, alley or highway, or any square, waterway or drain,
notwithstanding the decision of said court; but in case of
refusal to do so, they shall be liable for all costs incurred, and
shall pay the same. All benefits assessed by virtue of the
above provisions shall be liens on the respective lots or parcels