CAROLINE COUNTY. 1673

trees, posts and other obstructions therefrom, and for laying out public
squares, drains, watercourses; and all benefits or 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, ap-
pointed by the Commissioners of Preston, who shall within ten days
after notification of their appointment, take an oath before a justice of
the peace of Caroline County or any notary public, that they will faith-
fully 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 said 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, graded or improved, or any property adjacent thereto, or any
other property injured or benefited by said street, alley, drain, square 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, drain 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 purpose; 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 damages 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 property, or to the
owner or occupant thereof, which the said lot or parcel of land, or the
owner or occupant thereof ought to pay. They shall locate boundaries and
prepare an explanatory map giving description of the street or alley
opened, closed, extended, widened, straightened or improved, with each
separate lot or parcel of land deemed to have sustained damages or re-
ceive benefits, and they shall within twenty days return to the Commis-
sioners of Preston such map, together with the amount of damages
awarded to such owner or occupants and the amount of benefits assessed
to any lot or parcel of ground or the owner thereof, together with a certifi-
cate of their qualifications, which may be ratified, or rejected or altered