| 1787.
Passed May
15. |
LAWS of MARYLAND.
CHAP. IV.
An ACT for the more effectual remedy to extinguish fire in Baltimore-town. |
| Preamble. |
WHEREAS the calamity of fire breaking out in so
populous a town as
Baltimore is greatly to be dreaded, and every preparation ought to
be
made by the inhabitants to prevent its spreading whenever it doth
break out; |
Householders
to keep buckets,
&c. |
II. Be it enacted,
by
the general assembly of Maryland, That ever householder
within the said town, whose real property therein is assessed to one
hundred
pounds or upwards current money, shall be obliged to keep him or herself
provided with two good and sufficient leather buckets marked with the
owner's
names, and hung up near the front door of their dwelling house, which
buckets
shall be used for no other purpose but handing water at fires; and
every such
householder now residing within the said town, shall be allowed six
months
from the end of this present session of assembly, to procure the said
buckets, and
every such person, who shall hereafter come to reside in the said town,
shall be
allowed three months from the time of their residence and assessment
as aforesaid
to procure their said buckets. |
Penalty on
neglect, &c. |
III. And be
it enacted, That any person of the above description, who shall
neglect to provide themselves with two buckets as aforesaid, after the
times allowed
by this act to procure them, shall forfeit and pay seven shillings
and six-pence
current money per month for every month he or they shall so neglect to
provide themselves with the said buckets, to be recovered by any justice
of the
peace. |
Buckets lost
to be replaced,
&c. |
IV. And be it
enacted, That if any of the said buckets be lost or broke at
fires, that the special commissioners of said town shall, out of the fines
and forfeitures
incurred under this act, replace the said buckets so lost or broke at fires. |
Wells to be
sunk, &c. |
V. And be it
enacted, That the special commissioners of said town shall be
and they are hereby authorised and empowered to sink, or cause to be sunk,
wells,
and to erect pumps, in such parts and places on the sides of the streets
in said
town that are at present remote and at a distance from water, for the ease
and
convenience of the inhabitants of said town, and the expences thereof to
be raised
and paid by the assessable property on the square that wants such wells
or pumps,
to be levied, collected and applied, by the commissioners aforesaid, for
the purpose
aforesaid; provided always, that the commissioners aforesaid shall, in
no
case, proceed to sinking the wells, or erecting the pumps, on any square,
unless
the majority of the persons owning property on such square petition the
said commissioners
for doing the same. |
How fines are
to be paid,
&c. |
VI. And be it
enacted, That all fines and penalties incurred in virtue of this
act shall be paid to the special commissioners, to be by them applied to
the sinking
wells and erecting pumps in said town. |
Tenants may
deduct for
buckets, &c. |
VII. And be
it enacted, That every tenant under lease from year to year furnishing
and supplying leather buckets under and in virtue of this act, shall be
allowed to deduct out of the rent arising due to the landlord, the expence
of procuring
the said buckets, and the same shall be considered as the property
of the
landlord, and not removable by the tenant on his leaving the premises leased. |
Passed May
15. |
CHAP. V.
An ACT to enable John De Butts to devise lands to his relations
on the condition therein mentioned. |
| Preamble. |
WHEREAS John De Butts, of Saint Mary's county, by
his petition
to this general assembly, hath set forth, that not having any lawful
issue, he is desirous of devising part of his estate to his brother, doctor |
|
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