734

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

as the parties may require, and shall examine them

on oath or affirmation, to be administered by the

sheriff, in relation to the value of the property to

be condemned; and after the testimony is closed,

and without unnecessary delay, and after having

made a fair and just comparison of the advantages

and disadvantages arising from said railway, they

Determine

shall examine and determine whether any, and if

damages.

any, what amount of damages has been or may be

sustained by said owner or owners respectively, and

make report thereof accordingly, and the said jury

shall reduce their inquisition to writing, and shall

sign and seal the same, and It shall then be returned

by said sheriff to the clerk of the Circuit Court for

his county, and by such clerk filed in his court, and

unless sufficient cause to the contrary be shown

within thirty days after said inquisition has been

filed, the same shall forthwith be confirmed by said

Confirmed by
court.

court, and when confirmed, it shall be recorded by

the said clerk at the expense of the said railway

company; but if set aside, the said court shall direct

another inquisition to take place in the manner

before described, and in case the second or any other

inquisition which shall be confirmed by the court

shall not award the land owners a larger amount of

damages than was awarded by the first inquisition,

the court may, in its discretion, order the costs of

Owner to pay

said inquisitions, or either of them, to be paid by the

costs.

owner or owners of said land, or materials con-

demned; and the inquisition shall, in all cases,

describe the property taken or the bounds of the

lands condemned and the quality or duration of the

interest in the same valued for the company, and

such valuation, when paid or tendered to the owner

or owners of the property, his, her or their heirs,

Entitle to es-

legal representatives or assigns, shall entitle the said

tate.

company to the estate and interest in the same thus

valued as if it had been legally conveyed by the

owner or owners of the same, and the said valuation,

if not received when tendered, may at any time

thereafter be received without cost or interest from

said company by the owner or owners, his, her or

their heirs, legal representatives or assigns, and the

sheriff shall keep the said jury together for a reason-

able time until they shall agree upon and sign and

seal said inquisition; and in case it shall so happen