FREDERICK COUNTY. 2653

P. L. L., 1888, Art. 11, sec. 323. 1918 Code, sec. 746.

775. They shall have power to establish the limits and width of the
streets and alleys of the said village, and remove obstructions therefrom,
and may, with the consent of one-half of the owners of the property
through which they may pass, open new streets, lanes or alleys.

P. L. L., 1888, Art. 11, sec. 324. 1918 Code, sec. 747.

776. They shall have power to provide for the payment of damages and
expenses of opening, widening, laying out and grading the streets, lanes
and alleys in said village, by levying and assessing the same generally
upon the whole of the assessable property, or especially upon the assessable
property of persons benefited thereby.

P. L. L., 1888, Art. 11, sec. 325. 1918 Code, sec. 748.

777. If on the opening or laying out of any new street, lane or alley,
the said commissioners cannot agree with the owner of any land or prop-
erty wanted for the purposes, for the purchase, use or occupation of the
same, application may be made to any justice of the peace for the county,
who shall thereupon issue his warrant, under his hand and seal, directed,
to the sheriff of the county, requiring him to summons a jury of twenty
inhabitants of the county, who shall be freeholders, and not related to
any of the parties, or in anywise interested, to meet on the land or near
the property to be valued, on a day to be named in the warrant, not less
than ten nor more than twenty days after issuing the warrant.

P. L. L., 1888, Art. 11, sec. 326. 1918 Code, sec. 749.

778. Before the jury proceeds to act, the sheriff shall administer to

each juror an oath that he will justly and impartially value the damages;
and if any of the jurors summoned do not attend, the sheriff shall imme-
diately summon as many jurors as shall be necessary, with those in at-
tendance, to furnish a panel of twenty, and from them each party or his
agent, or if either be not present in person or by agent, the sheriff for
him, may strike off four jurors, and the remaining twelve shall act as a
jury of inquest and damages.

P. L. L., 1888, Art. 11, sec. 327. 1918 Code, sec. 750.

779. The jury in estimating the damages shall take into consideration
the benefit resulting to the owner from the opening and laying out of said
streets, lanes and alleys, through, along or near to the property of the

owner, but only in extinguishment of the claims for damages; and the
jury shall reduce their inquisition to writing, and shall sign and seal the
same; and it shall then be returned by the sheriff to the Clerk of the
Circuit Court for the county, and shall be confirmed by the said court

at its next session, if no sufficient cause to the contrary be shown, and when
confirmed shall be recorded by the Clerk, at the expense of the commis-
sioners.