128 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 68

the Public Local Laws of Maryland (1927 and 1930 Edi-
tions), title "Baltimore City, " sub-title "General Powers, "
sub-heading "Streets, Bridges and Highways, " be and the
same is hereby repealed and re-enacted with amendments,
to read as follows:

26A. 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 conveni-
ence 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 said city, for which said owner or possessor
ought to be compensated, or ought to pay a com-
pensation, 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, ex-
tending, 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 Baltimore City
Court, from decisions of the Commissioners for Open-
ing 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, widen-
ing, 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 pro-
vide for collecting and paying over the amount of com-
pensation 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 exer-
cise the powers and effect the objects above specified. To
acquire the fee simple interest in any land for the purpose