DORCHESTER COUNTY. 2183

by law for the collection of city taxes from real and personal property
by the Commissioners of Cambridge, who shall prescribe the time and
place for the payment of any such assessment for any such improvement,
and in addition to the means already provided by law for the collection
of city taxes the said assessments may be collected by a suit at law, either
before a justice of the peace, if within such jurisdiction, or in the Circuit

Court for Dorchester County, if the amount is within the jurisdiction of
said court, and any judgment rendered in any suit, upon being recorded
in the clerk's office of Dorchester County, shall be a first lien in priority,
and take precedence over any existing lien of any kind or character, and
if necessary to enforce the said lien by fiere facias, and sale thereunder,
then the land and property so sold shall be free and clear of any other
liens or encumbrances, except any other public taxes that may be due and

owing, and out of the proceeds of sale, such other taxes shall be paid, if
the proceeds of sale shall be sufficient therefor, after paying the costs and
the amount of the said assessment, and interest, if any.

The said improvement or improvements may be made either in the dis-
cretion of the Commissioners of Cambridge, or upon petition by the own-
ers of property on any street or streets, or part of any street or streets,
that is, it may be made, if in the discretion of the Commissioners of Cam-
bridge, such improvement is believed to be necessary, without any petition
or application by owners of property, or it may be made on application by
property owners, or it may be made both upon the discretion of the Com-
missioners of Cambridge, and also petition from property owners.

If the Commissioners of Cambridge, in its discretion shall deem it
necessary to so improve any street or streets, or part of any street or streets,
it shall pass a resolution declaring what improvement is to be made, giv-
ing a reasonable notice of such resolution, the said resolution to provide
what part of any street or streets is to be improved, and how improved,
and the estimated cost thereof, showing how much of said costs will be
paid by the city and how much will be paid by the property on said street,
and after the publication of the said resolution or notice thereof, the Com-
missioners of Cambridge shall, by ordinance appropriate the amount to
be paid by the city, and assess upon the said property, the amount to be
paid by the property owner, on the property on said street, giving the
time when such money shall be due and payable, and said ordinance also
to contain a provision that unless cause to the contrary is shown, on or
before some day therein named, that the said assessment shall, after said
date, become final, and if no cause or insufficient cause is shown by said
date, then the Commissioners shall pass an ordinance making the said
assessment final, and shall proceed to make the said improvement.

Such improvements may be made if the owners, or a majority of the
owners, of more than one-half of the real estate in front feet, fronting or
binding on each of such public highways, or thoroughfares, sought to be
improved as aforesaid, shall sign and file with the "Commissioners of
Cambridge," a petition for such improvement to be made, and therein

agreeing that the "Commissioners of Cambridge" shall assess the said