FREDERICK COUNTY. 2445

the Treasurer of the Vigilant Hose Company of Emmitsburg, $200 of
said sum to the Treasurer of the Guardian Hose Company of Thurmont,
$200 of said sum to the Treasurer of the Middletown Volunteer Fire
Company, $200 of said sum to the Treasurer of the Walkersville Volun-
teer Fire Company, and $200 of said sum to the Treasurer of the Mt.
Airy Fire Company, the said sums to be applied by the respective com-
panies for their maintenance and support.

ROADS.

1892, ch. 426, sec. 95A. 1918 Code, sec. 144. 1927, ch. 629, sec. 144.

123. In all cases in which petitions are filed for the opening, altering
or closing of public roads in Frederick County, outside the taxable limits
of any incorporated town or village, the County Commissioners shall first
determine whether the public convenience requires the opening, altering
or closing of any public road, in whole or in part, as petitioned for, and to
that end may visit in a body or by a committee of their own number
appointed for that purpose, the locality in which it is proposed to open,
alter or close such public road and ascertain the required conveniences of
the community through which it is proposed such new, altered or closed
road shall run, and if they shall be of the opinion that the public con-
venience of such community does require the opening of a new road, or
the altering or closing of an old road, in whole or in part, as the case
may be, but that such convenience would be better served by the adoption
of a different location than that mentioned in the petition, they shall so
determine and shall cause a survey and plat of the proposed new road or
alteration to be made by a competent surveyor upon such location or route
as in their judgment will best promote the public convenience.
Smith v. Goldsborough, 80 Md. 49.

1892, ch. 426, sec. 95B. 1918 Code, sec. 145. 1927, ch. 629, sec. 145.

124. Whenever the County Commissioners shall decide that it is ex-
pedient that a road be opened or altered as provided in the preceding
section, they may contract with the owner or owners of the land through
which the said road is intended to run, for the right of way over the land
required for the opening or altering of said road, if he, she or they be
competent to contract; and in case the said County Commissioners shall
so contract, they shall cause said survey and plat to be recorded in the
office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for said county, which said survey
and plat shall be referred to in, and shall be a part of said deed or deeds
and the lands so conveyed shall be and become thenceforth the property
of the county, in the same manner and to the same extent as the lands
of other county roads, and no further, subject to the public's right of way
over the same; and the said County Commissioners shall also cause such
survey and plat to be filed and recorded in their own office, with their
other proceedings in connection with such public road.