2254

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

they are hereby authorized to issue a commission to three
examiners, discreet and disinterested citizens and freeholders
of said county, authorizing them, or any two of them, to meet
upon the premises, and inquire and examine whether the con-
venience of the neighbouring country requires that the road
should be opened, straightened, altered, or shut up, agreeably
to the petition, and if in their judgment the convenience of
the neighbourhood does not require the road to be opened,
straightened, altered, or shut up, as prayed for, they shall
make their return accordingly, and thereupon the proceedings
shall end, and the petition be dismissed, and the petitioners
shall pay all costs incurred ; but if in their opinion the conve-
nience of the neighbourhood does require such road to be
opened, straightened, altered, or shut up, they shall make, or
cause to be made, in their presence, and under their direction,
a location of such road in the manner in which they shall deem
best for the public interest and convenience, and also of such
other portions of the adjacent country, roads and streams of
water, as they shall deem necessary to a clear understanding of
the case, and shall cause a plot of the same to be made out,
with suitable explanations, and shall return the same, together
with a full report of their proceedings, under their hands, to
the said commissioners, together with the reasons whereon
their opinion is founded.

Oath to be
taken by
examiner.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted. That the said examiners before
they shall proceed to execute such commission, shall take an
oath, or affirmation, as the case may be, before a justice of the
peace of the county aforesaid, to be by him certified upon the
said commission, that they will execute the said commission
truly and faithfully, and without the influence of fear, favour,
affection or partiality.

To give
notice,

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That the said examiners, or a
majority of them, before they proceed to execute such commis-
sion, shall give four weeks public notice thereof to all persons
concerned, by advertisement, describing the road proposed to
be opened, straightened, altered or shut up, and appointing
the day of meeting upon the premises as aforesaid, which
advertisement shall be published for four successive weeks in
all the newspapers printed in said county.

May
ascertain
damages

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That the said examiners, or a
majority of them, shall value and ascertain the damages that
may be sustained by the owner or owners respectively of the
land through which such road as opened, straightened or
altered, may pass, and that in assessing such damages they
shall consider as well the advantage and benefit, as the loss
and injury to be occasioned thereby, to each person; and the
said examiners shall in their return specify the several sums