260 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

Streets, Bridges and Highways.—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
convenience 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 or
adjacent to said City, for which said owner or possessor ought
to be compensated, or ought to pay a compensation, 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, extending, 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 the decisions of the Commissioners for
Opening Streets or any Commissioner or Commissioners,
or other persons appointed by virtue of any ordinance,
to ascertain the damage which will be caused or the benefit
which will accrue to the owners or possessors of ground or im-
provements by locating, opening, extending, widening,
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 provide for collecting and paying over
the amount of compensation 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 exercise the powers and
effect the objects above specified. To acquire the fee simple
interest in any land for the purpose of opening, extending,
widening or straightening, in whole or in part, any street,