1338 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 548

and said Commissioners of Ridgely shall act on said return
within twenty days after the expiration of said notice, and
may issue a new commission as in their judgment may seem
proper, and before actually proceeding to open, widen, ex-.
tend, straighten or close any such street or alley the Commis-
sioners of Ridgely shall pay or tender to the person, his agent,
guardian or representative the amount of damages so
awarded; and if any one shall feel aggrieved by the decision
of the Commissioners of Ridgely, in any matter affected by
their decision, he may appeal to the Circuit Court for Caroline
County, by giving written notice within twenty days from
said decision, filed with the Clerk of Ridgely, of his desire to
appeal; and on the filing of the said notice it shall be the
duty of the said Clerk to deliver the papers connected where-
with to the Clerk of said Court, and the same proceedings
shall be had on appeal as in the case of appeals from judg-
ments of Justices of the Peace; provided, nevertheless, that
the Commissioners of Ridgely may decline to open, lay out,
extend, widen, grade or straighten any street, alley, or high-
way, or any square, park, play ground, waterway, sewer or
drain, notwithstanding the decision of the said Court; but in
case of refusal so to do they shall be liable for all costs in-
curred, and shall pay the same, all benefits assessed by virtue
of the above provisions shall be liens on the respective lots or
parcels of ground on which they are assessed from the time
of the final ratification of the aforesaid return, and shall be
collected as taxes are collected, or may be collected by action
at law. On appeal the Court or the Jury may alter the award
so returned, whether of damages or benefits, and award costs
in its discretion. On final ratification of any report of the
assessors appointed under the provisions of this section, the
Clerk of Ridgely shall at once record in a book kept for that
purpose the said turn, plat and all proceedings connected
therewith. And if, for any reason, the person to whom
damages are awarded refused to receive the damages assessed,
or from infancy or any other cause are prevented from re-
ceiving and receipting for same, the damages so assessed shall
be deposited in some bank of Caroline County, paying interest
on deposits, if any, to the credit of the person entitled to such
damages, and thereupon the Commissioners of Ridgely may
proceed in the same way as if said damages had been paid to
the person or persons themselves.

SEC. 35. The Commissioners of Ridgely may acquire by
condemnation proceedings as prescribed by Sections 331 to
337, inclusive, of Article 23 of the Annotated Code of Public
General Laws of Maryland, any private road or roads whatso-
ever, or rights of drainage or sewerage or any private prop-