FRANK BROWN, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

895

SEC. 48. And be it enacted, That the board of County Com-
missioners be and they are hereby authorized, empowered and
required to adopt a scientific and thorough system of drainage
and general improvement for the public county roads of
Somerset county, whenever the same may be needed. To
further this end, the said board are authorized to engage the

System of
drainage.

services of a competent surveyor and engineer, who shall have
charge of and superintend such drainage and improvements as
shall be adopted. It shall be the duty of such surveyor and

To employ
surveyor.

engineer, on complaint of three or more citizens and taxpayers
of the county, to go over, examine and report to the board of
County Commissioners what, if any, drainage and other im-
provements are necessary for the road complained of, together
with an estimate of the cost of doing the same, and if, in the
judgment of said board, after receiving said report and esti-
mate, said drainage shall be necessary, the said board shall
order the said surveyor and engineer to proceed to lay off such
ditch or ditches as may be necessary, and outlets for the same
to some creek or branch which may be a natural drain with
ascertained depth and width for the complete and perfect
drainage of the same; and to advertise and let out the cutting,
widening and cleaning of such ditch or making such improve-
ment on same to the lowest bidder for cash, the time and
character of such advertising to be such as may be adopted
by said board. It shall be the duty of such surveyor
and engineer to supervise the cutting or cleansing of such
ditch or ditches, and other improvements, and no ditch or
other improvements shall be received or paid for until after the
same has been examined and reported by said surveyor and
engineer to be perfect in all respects, and to conform to the
requirements of the contract for cutting or making the same,
and the drainage or oilier improvements of such road com-

Duties.

pletely effected; and the said Board of County Commissioners
shall have such power and authority to condemn outlets for
such drainage through private property as is now or hereafter
may be conferred by the Code of Public General Laws of the
State of Maryland, for condemning public highways; and the
said board are authorized to allow and pay said surveyor or
engineer for his services, four dollars per day for every day he
may be actually engaged in such service for the county.

Power of con-
demnation.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect
from the date of its passage.

Approved April 6th, 1894.

Effective.