1794 ARTICLE 7.

1900, ch. 341, sec. P.

225. They, said Mayor and Council, shall have power to provide for
the laying out, opening, widening and extending any street or alley in the
town, and may fix the dimensions, thereof which in their judgment the
public welfare or convenience may require; to provide for ascertaining
whether any and what amount in value of damages1 will be caused thereby,
for which the owner or possessor of the property through or over which
such street or alley may pass, ought to be compensated and paid, amd for
assessing or laying either generally on the whole assessable property
within the town, or specially on the property of persons benefited by said
improvement, the whole or any part of the damages amd expenses which
may be incurred in laying out, opening, extending or widening such street
or alley; to provide in case they determine to levy and assess the whole
or any part of the damages and expenses upon the owners of the property
in the town specially benefited by such improvement, for the apportion-
ment among them of such damages and expenses so determined, to be
levied upon them in due proportion to the amount of benefits by them,
respectively received; to provide for the condemnation of all land and
property so taken for public use in opening, widening or extending any
street or alley as aforesaid, for the notice to be given in relation thereto
for the payment of the damages so awarded and for the collection and
mode of payment under any action allowed by law for the benefits so
determined to be assessed; and to pass all ordinances necessary and
proper to the exercise and enforcement of the powers granted in this
section; provided that no land or property shall be taken under the powers
given in this section, without the payment or tender of just compensation
therefor to the party entitled to such compensation as agreed on with the
owners of such property or awarded by jury, and provided further that
the ordinance or ordinances regulating the condemnation of land or prop-
erty lying wholly or partly in Mt. Airy, shall provide for a reasonable
notice to the owners or owner thereof, and for appeals to the 'Circuit
Court of Carroll County by any person interested, including the Mayor
and Council of Mt. Airy, from the decision of any commissioners or other
persons appointed to vadue or assess damages for the taking of any such
land or property or interest therein.

1900, ch. 341, sec. Q. 1920, ch. 646.

226. The said Mayor and Council shall have the power to grade and
pave or otherwise improve the streets and alleys within the corporate
limits, and to regulate the width thereof; to lay walks across said streets
and alleys whenever necessary; to provide of what material the said
streets and alleys shall be curbed, and how the same shall be done and
kept in repair; they may require the owners of the lots of ground in front
of which grading and paving, laying o.r repairing of sidewalks and laying
or repairing or curbing are to be done, to do the same at their own expense,
and if any owner of a lot shall neglect or refuse to grade 'and pave the
sidewalks or lay the curbing in front of his lot or premises, or repair the