804

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

compensation, surveys and platting and all other expenses and

to require that the same be deposited with the Treasurer of the

county before further steps are taken. Upon such deposit be-

Appointment

ing made the Commission shall appoint three examiners, one of

of examiners

whom shall be the Roads Engineer, one a resident of the dis-

trict in which the proposed road is located, and who does not

own property on the line of the same and is not directly affected

thereby or interested therein except as a resident of such dis-

trict, and the third a disinterested freeholder of the county,

to go upon the grounds, examine into the public need for the

opening, altering or closing of the road as aforesaid, determine

the probable cost thereof and the names of the property owners

who will be benefited or damaged thereby, and the amount to

which each will be so benefited or damaged, and the amount

which the district fund should contribute; provided, that the

total net assessments for benefits imposed upon the petitioners

for such road shall in no event be less than twenty-five per cent.

of the whole cost thereof, including the cost of the proceedings.

The examiners so appointed, before they proceed to act as such,

shall take an oath to execute the trust reposed in them faith-

fully and without favor, affection or partiality, which oath shall

be endorsed on the order of appointment and returned there-

Notice of time

with. Said examiners, or a majority of them, shall give notice

and place of
meeting.

of the time and place of meeting" by personal notice to the pe-

titioners and by publishing a notice of the same once a week

for two successive weeks in some newspaper or newspapers

published in Baltimore County, and by causing a copy of the

same to be delivered to every owner through or along whose

property the proposed road passes when the petition involves

the closing of a road, or through or along whose property the

proposed road will pass. When the petition involves the open-

ing or change of a road, to be publicly posted on said property

in case the owner cannot be found, at least five days before

the day of meeting. And in case the owner be an infant or

non compos mentis, then a copy of said notice shall be left with

the parent or guardian of said infant, or with the committee

or person having charge of the person alleged to be non compos

mentis. At the time appointed the examiners, or a majority of

them, shall meet on the premises and proceed to examine and

determine whether the public convenience requires that the

road should be opened, altered, relocated or closed, as the

case may be; and said examiners shall have power to adjourn

and meet again from time to time as their duties in the premises

may require, If the application be for opening, altering or re-

locating a road, and if the said examiners shall determine that