PHILLIPS LEE GOLDSBOROUGH, ESQ., GOVERNOR. 1483

full charge and control of all sewers, drains and ditches used
in connection with the public highways, roads, streets, avenues,
lanes and alleys of the county, and shall keep the same in
proper order and repair. Whenever it shall become necessary
in their discretion, to lay out or construct a sewer, drain, or
ditch across or under the property of any individual or corpora-
tion for the purpose of draining the surface water from any
public highway heretofore existing or hereafter dedicated by
grant, condemned or declared to be a public highway, as provided
in this act, said county commissioners shall have the power to
lay out and construct the same in the same manner and subject
to the same provisions and restrictions, so far as the same may
be applicable, as are provided herein for the opening, altering,
relocating or closing of county roads, and to assess the benefits
and award the damages arising therefrom in the same manner.

468. And in like manner, whenever it shall be advisable
and feasible, and to the public interest, in the opinion of the
said county commissioners, to construct and connect a sewer or
sewers or systems of sewers with the sewer system of the Dis-
trict of Columbia, they shall have power so to do, and to create
and construct such sewerage system in or over any natural
draining area; and provided further, that in constructing such
sewer or sewers or systems of sewers so connected with the
sewers of the District of Columbia, the entire cost of such con-
struction, and all condemnations and other damages and prop-
erty expenses connected therewith shall be assessed against the
land constituting the drainage area and benefited by the same,
and no part of such expense shall be charged against the county;
and any contract made for such construction shall be paid for
to the contractors by allotting by the said county commissioners
of proper proportions and amounts of the proceeds of the bene-
fits assessed and collectible against the land constituting the
drainage area in each case affected, and all such assessments
shall be collectible by the county treasurer as herein provided
for as to other assessments of benefits.

469. When any sewer, drain, or ditch is so constructed as
herein provided, said county commissioners shall -have the right
to allow connections to be made therewith from private or
public property, upon such terms as they may decide to be
proper and just.

1910, ch. 484, sec. 177Q.

470. The said County Commissioners of Montgomery
County shall have full power to agree and contract with owners
of land or materials, the use of which may be required in con-
nection with the opening of any new road, the construction