CAROLINE COUNTY. 1591

same manner as other town taxes are now collectible in the town of
Federalsburg as prescribed by law, or compel by fines or otherwise the
owner or owners of any such lot to grade, pave, repave and curb the side-
walks in front thereof; and may provide by ordinance for condemning,
laying out, opening, extending and making new streets or alleys and
for altering, straightening, widening, grading, improving, or closing up.
in whole or in part any existing street or alley, and for removing trees,
posts and other obstructions therefrom, and for laying out public squares,

parks, play grounds, drains, sewer, water-courses; and all benefits or dam-
ages done, suffered or incurred by laying out, opening and making of new
streets or alleys, or by altering, straightening, widening, grading, im-
proving or closing up in whole or in part any existing street or alley or
laying out public squares, parks, play grounds, drains, sewer and water-
courses shall be determined and assessed by -three disinterested persons,
or a majority of them, residents of said town, appointed by the Mayor
and Council of Federalsburg, who shall within ten days after notification
of their appointment, take an oath before a Justice of the Peace of Caro-
line County or any Notary Public, that they will faithfully and fairly
and without partiality or prejudice, value and assess the loss and dam-
ages to be suffered and incurred by any person, or persons interested in
said property over, through and by which the said street or alley, square,
park, play ground, drain, sewer or water-course 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, square, park, play ground, drain, sewer or
water-course is to be opened, closed, extended, widened, graded or im-
proved or any property adjacent thereto, or any other property injured
or benefited by said street, alley, square, park, play ground, drain, sewer
or water-course; they shall give at least ten days' notice in one or more
newspapers published in Caroline County and also by written or printed
notice mailed to the last known post-office address of the owner or owners
of said property, of their purpose to lay out, open, extend, close up, widen,
straighten, grade or improve the street or alley, square, park, play ground,
drain, sewer or water-course so directed to be laid out, opened, extended,
closed up, widened, straightened, graded or improved, and of the day,
hour and place of meeting for the said purposes; and they shall meet at
the time and place mentioned in said notice given by them, and proceed
to exercise the power and perform the duties assigned to and required of
them, and to ascertain whether any and what amount in value of dam-
ages will be caused thereby, for which the owner or occupant of any right
or interest in any ground or improvement ought to be compensated over
and above the amount in value of benefit which will thereby accrue to
such owner or occupant thereof, and ascertain what amount in value of
benefit will thereby accrue to any lot or parcel of land by or through
which the same may pass or improvements be made, or any other prop-
erty, or to the owner or occupant thereof, which the said lot or parcel of