HOWARD COUNTY. 3109

P. L. L., 1888, Art. 14, sec. 114. 1886, ch. 91

253. At least twelve feet in width of the bed of the road of the Tria-
delphia turnpike company of Howard county, running from the seven-
teenth mile stone, on the Frederick turnpike, to the village of Triadelphia;
and also of the branch of said road running to the village of Roxbury;
and also of the part of the road of the Ellicott City and Clarkesville turn-
pike company, running from the sixth mile stone on said road to what
is known as the "Vineyard road," all within the limits of Howard county,
shall be covered with broken stone or gravel, or other hard or durable
materials to the depth of at least six inches, unless the natural bed be
hard.

P. L. L., 1888, Art. 14, sec. 115. 1888, ch. 163.

254. Whenever examiners shall be appointed in Howard county for
the purpose of opening, altering or closing a public road in said county,
they, or a majority of them, shall value and ascertain the damages and
benefits, respectively, that may be sustained by each person damaged or
benefited thereby, if the application shall be for opening or altering a
road, by opening or altering the same, taking into consideration the ad-
vantages and disadvantages of the same, if any; and they shall make such
ascertainment a part of their return to the county commissioners, and
the same, with the rest of their proceedings, shall be subject to ratification,
rejection or alteration of the county commissioners, in such manner as
in their judgment shall be just.

P. L. L., 1888, Art. 14, sec. 116. 1888, ch. 163.

255. The county commissioners shall determine whether the benefits
adjudged by the examiners, or by themselves, the expenses of opening
making or altering the road in question, and the cost of all proceedings
relating thereto shall be paid by the persons petitioning, those benefited,
or the county, or may direct that the same be paid by the petitioners,
those benefited and the county in such proportions as they may deem just;
and after the final ascertainment by the county commissioners of the pro-
portions in which and by whom such benefits shall be paid, the same shall
be a debt from the person against whom the same shall have been assessed,
to the county commissioners; but no damages or benefits shall be payable
until after the final disposition of any appeal to the circuit court for
said county from the assessment by the county commissioners of damages
to or benefits against any person.

P. L. L., 1888, Art. 14, sec. 117. 1888, ch. 283.

256. In all cases where any public road in Howard county is here-
after opened, altered or closed by the county commissioners of said county,
they shall, within six months after said road shall have been opened to
public travel, altered or closed, as the case may be, cause the petition,
plat and other proceedings had in relation to the same to be recorded in
A well bound book to be kept in their office for this purpose.