916 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [Ch. 635]

assessment to appear before said Commissioners to show cause
why said increase should not be made.

173. The said Commissioners of Sharptown shall have full
power to pass all by-laws and ordinances not inconsistent with
the laws and Constitution of this State as from time to time
they may deem wise, equitable and expedient for the comfort,
health, convenience and prosperity of said town and its inhabi-
tants; for the prevention and removal of nuisances, for the
preservation of health and suppression of vice and immorality
within the limits of said town; and for the protection of the
property of said town and its inhabitants.

174. The Commissioners of Sharptown shall have power to
make by-laws and pass ordinances to establish grade for streets,
gutters and sidewalks of the town, the width thereof, and pre-
scribe the material of which same shall be built; to cause the
sidewalks along the streets to be graded, curbed, paved, repaved
or improved at the cost and expense of the owners of the abut-
ting property, which cost shall be a lien on the abutting prop-
erty and recoverable by an action at law, or compel by fines or
otherwise the owners or proprietors of any such lot to grade,
pave, repave and curb the sidewalks in front thereof agreeably
to ordinances that may hereafter be passed; to provide by
ordinance for the condemning, laying out, opening, extending,
and making new streets or alleys, and for altering straighten-
ing, widening, grading, improving or closing up in whole or
part any existing street or alley, and for removing trees, posts
and other obstructions, and for laying out public squares, drains
and watercourses; and all benefits and damages done, suffered
or incurred by laying out, opening and making of new streets
or alleys, or by altering, straightening, widening, grading,
improving or closing up in whole or in part any existing street
or alley, or laying out public squares, drains and watercourses,
shall be determined and assessed by three disinterested persons,
or a majority of them, residents of said town, appointed by the
said Commissioners, who shall within ten days after notifica-
tion of their appointment, take an oath before a justice of the
peace of Wicomico county that they will faithfully and fairly
and without partiality or prejudice, value and assess the loss
and damages to be suffered and incurred by any person or per-
sons interested in said property over, through' and by which
the street or alley, square, drain or watercourse is to be opened,
closed, extended, widened, graded or improved, and also to
estimate the benefits that may accrue therefrom to any such
property, over, through and by which the said street or alley,
drain or watercourse is to be opened, closed, extended, widened,