860 ARTICLE 4.

bonds, stocks or certificates of indebtedness, or any part thereof hereto-
fore or hereafter authorized by the General Assembly of Maryland and
approved by the voters pursuant to ordinance, but not yet actually issued,
at a rate of interest per annum less than that which may have been pro-
vided for in any ordinance or ordinances submitting such loans to the
voters for their approval.

Thom v. Balto., 154 Mel. 275.

(26) STREETS, BRIDGES AND HIGHWAYS.

(a) OPENING, EXTENDING, WIDENING, STRAIGHTENING OR
CLOSING UP STREETS.

1817, ch. 148. 1832, ch. 57 1833, ch. 182. 1838. ch. 226. P. L. L. (1860), Art. 4,
sec. 837. 1878, ch. 143. P. L. L. (1888), Art. 4, secs. 806, 806 1/2. 1894, ch. 312.

To provide for laying out, opening, extending, widening, straightening
or closing up, in whole or in part, any street, square, lane or alley within
the bounds of said city, which in its opinion the public welfare or con-
venience may require. To provide for ascertaining whether any, and
what amount in value, of damage will be caused thereby, and what amount
of benefit will thereby accrue to the owner or possessor of any ground
or improvements within or adjacent to said city, for which said owner
or possessor ought to be compensated, or ought to pay a compensation,
and to provide for assessing or levying, either generally on the whole
assessable property of said city, or specially on the property of persons
benefited, the whole or any part of the damages and expenses which it
shall ascertain will be incurred in locating, opening, extending, widening,
straightening or closing up the whole or any part of any street, square,
lane or alley in said city. To provide for granting appeals to the Bal-
timore City Court, from decisions of the Commissioners for Opening-
Streets or any Commissioner or Commissioners, or other persons appointed
by virtue of any ordinance, to ascertain the damages which will be caused
or the benefit which will accrue to the owners or possessors of ground or
improvements by locating, opening, extending, widening, straightening
or closing up, in whole or in part, any street, square, lane or alley within
the said city, and for securing to every such owner or possessor the right,
on application within a reasonable time, to have decided by a jury trial
whether any damage has been caused, or any benefit has accrued to them,
and to what amount. To provide for collecting and paying over the amount
of compensation adjudged to each person entitled, or investing it in stock
of the said city, for the use of any such person who, because of infancy,
absence from the city or any other cause, may be prevented from receiving
it, before any street, square, lane or alley, in whole or in part, shall be so
opened, extended, widened, straightened or closed up, and to enact and
pass all ordinances, from time to time, which shall be deemed necessary
and proper to exercise the powers and effect the objects above specified.
To acquire the fee simple interest in any land for the purpose of opening,
extending, widening or straightening, in whole or in part, any street,