PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY. 3945

1912, ch. 695, sec. 234.

646. All damages done, suffered or incurred by opening, closing,
straightening or widening said streets, alleys or lanes, and any benefits or
advantages accruing to any person by such opening shall be assessed and
determined by three disinterested persons, resident of said town, to be
appointed by the Mayor and City Council who shall within twenty days
after their notification on their appointment, take an oath before a Justice
of the Peace within the town, that they will faithfully, fairly and without
partiality or prejudice value and assess the loss and damage to be suffered
and incurred by and the benefits to accrue to any person interested in the
property over which the streets, alleys or lanes are to be opened, closed,
straightened or widened, and they shall give at least two days' notice, by
notice posted in three public places in said town, and by notice inserted
in some newspaper published in said town, if there be such a paper pub-
lished, of the time and place of meeting for the purpose of executing
their commission; and they shall, within ten days after such valuation or
assessment, return the same in writing under their hands and seals, with
a certificate of their qualifications before a Justice of the Peace, as here-
inbefore provided, to the Mayor and City Council of the town, which
said valuation and assessment shall be ratified or rejected by them as in
their judgment may seem proper; and if any person shall feel aggrieved
by the determination of the Mayor and City Council in ratifying or re-
jecting said award or returns, or in the amount of compensation awarded,
or in any matter relating to the same, he may appeal within sixty days
after said ratification or rejection to the Circuit Court for Prince George's
County; and either party may be entitled to a trial by jury and the judg-
ment of said Court shall be final among the parties; provided that the1
person taking the appeal shall within twenty days thereafter cease to be
delivered to the Clerk of the Circuit Court the award filed with said Mayor
and City Council, together with a copy of the order of said Mayor and
City Council, ratifying or rejecting the same, and all other papers relat-
ing thereto; but this section shall not be taken or construed to deprive
or deny the right of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel to accept any
streets or alleys which may be opened or dedicated by the owner of the
ground in said streets or alleys for the use of the public, but the same
shall be deemed streets and alleys, whether heretofore or hereafter opened
for public use, without proceeding in the manner herein indicated. No
street or alley given or dedicated shall he considered to be under the con-
trol, or to be kept in repair by the Mayor and City Council at its
expense, unless heretofore or hereafter accepted by it. The said Mayor
and City Council may enact all ordinances, from time to time, not con-
trary to law, necessary and proper to the exercise of the powers granted
in this section; provided, that before opening or condemning any street
or alley, at least twenty days' notice shall be given by it of any application
which may be made for the passage of any such ordinance, by notices.
posted in at least three public places, or by notice published in some news-
paper in said town.