152 ARTICLE 1.

1894, ch. 569, sec. 42.

425. In addition to the powers granted therein, in Sections 419, 420,
421, 422, 423, and 424, the said Mayor and Councilmen of Lonaconing
are further authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to grant unto
any person or persons, corporation or corporations, the exclusive right,
privilege, franchise and power to use the streets, lanes, public places and
alleys of said town for the purpose of laying, maintaining and operating
therein, water pipes, water mains, connections, valves, hydrants and other
accessories of a water supply system, for the purpose of supplying, for
gain or hire, the citizens of said town and said town with a supply of
water for domestic, manufacturing, sanitary and other purposes; provid-
ing that in granting said exclusive franchises, said grant shall be upon
condition that the grantees of said franchise, their heirs, successors or
assigns, shall within a reasonable time after said grant, not exceeding one
year, complete in or near said town a water supply system or plant, ade-
quate to supply by gravity or otherwise, said town with water for domestic,
sanitary and manufacturing purposes, and for fire protection, and shall
lay their mains, pipes and connections from said plant or system, to and
about said town, and shall place fire hydrants at such points in said
town as shall be agreed upon between said Mayor and Councilmen and
said grantees; and provided, that no water main shall be laid in said
town under four inches in size, and that said grant of franchises contain
some reasonable provision, to be agreed upon between said Mayor and
Councilmen and said grantees of said franchise, as to the extension of
said pipes, mains and hydrants, to keep pace with the growth of said
town; and that said grant shall contain a further provision that at any
time after some reasonable time after the date of said grant, not to exceed
forty years, the said Mayor and Councilmen shall have the right and
power to purchase said water supply system, lands, buildings, mains, pipes,
machinery, tools, connections, valves, hydrants, water rights and other
rights or property belonging to or used in connection with said water
system, the method of fixing the purchase price therefor to be fixed in
the said grant of franchises, and all rights and franchises so granted to
be at an end and to determine immediately upon the completion of said
purchase; and said franchise may include the right upon the part of the
grantees thereof, their heirs, successors and assigns, to contract with the
takers of said water for the rents or charges for the use of said water,
and for reasonable and proper regulations for its use; and making said
grant, said Mayor and Councilmen may provide for such other and further
reasonable and proper regulations as to the exercise of said powers, rights
and franchise, as they may see fit to prescribe in said grant.

1894, ch. 569, sec. 43.

426. Said Mayor and Councilmen are further authorized and empow-
ered to contract with the grantees of said franchise, their successors, heirs
or assigns, for such number of public fire hydrants as they may deem
necessary for the proper protection of public and private property from