538 CITY OF BALTIMORE. [ART. 4.

private property, upon giving thirty days' notice in writing to the
owners or agents of said private property within the bounds of the
city, when in their opinion the convenience or welfare of the city
may require it; to provide for ascertaining whether any and what
amount of actual damage will accrue thereby, and what amount
of actual benefit will thereby accrue to the owner or possessor of
any ground or improvements within or adjoining to the city,
being governed as far as practicable by the number of superficial
feet drained, and to provide for assessing and levying, either
generally on the whole assessable property of the said city, or by
a loan for the special purpose for constructing, opening, enlarging
or straightening any sewer, the sum necessary to pay the expense
or cost, or specially on the property of persons actually benefited,
the whole or any part of the damages and expenses which they
shall ascertain will be incurred in constructing, opening, enlarg-
ing or straightening any sewer in any street, lane or alley, or
through any private property in said city; to provide for granting
appeals to the court having jurisdiction thereof in Baltimore city,
from the decision of any commissioners or other persons appointed
in virtue of any ordinance to ascertain the damage which will be
incurred or the benefits which will accrue to the owners or
possessors of any ground or improvements for constructing, open-
ing, enlarging or straightening in any street, lane or alley, or
through any private property, any sewer which in their opinion
the public welfare or convenience may require, and for securing to-
every such owner or possessor the right on application within a rea-
sonable time, to have decided by a jury trial whether any damage
and what amount of damage has been caused, or whether any
benefit, and what amount of benefit, has accrued to them; and to
provide for collecting and paying over the amount of compensa-
tion adjudged to each person to receive the same, or investing in
stock of said corporation, bearing interest of five per centum per
annum, for the use of any person who, because of infancy, absence
from the city, or other cause, may be prevented from receiving it,
before any sewer shall be constructed, opened, enlarged or
straightened in any street, lane or alley, or through any private
property, and to enact and pass all ordinances from time to, time
which shall be deemed necessary and proper to exercise the power
and effect the objects herein specified.