662

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

title "Roads," to be designated as Section 127 A, and to fol-
low Section 127.

New section
added.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That the following section to be designated as section
127 A, be and the same is hereby added to the Code of Public
Local Laws, title "Wicomico County," sub-title "Roads," and
to follow section 127.
127 A. And be it enacted, That the County Commissioners
of Wicomico county shall have the power by ordinance or reso-

Condemning,
laying out,
opening,
etc., of new
roads.

lution of condemning, laying out, opening, extending and
making new roads, and for altering, straightening, widening,
grading, improving or closing up in whole or in part any exist-
ing road, and for removing trees, posts and other obstructions,
and for laying out public drains, water courses and public
landings on any navigable waters in Wicomico county, when in
their opinion the public necessity, or convenience require the same
without any previous application or petition. The County
Commissioners may contract with the owner or owners of the
land for the purpose of laying out, opening, extending and
making new roads, and for altering, straightening, widening,
grading, improving or closing up in whole or in part any exist-
ing road, or for a public drain or public landing, for the right
of way over the land necessary for any said road, or for land
for public drains and public landings if he, she or they
be competent to contract ; and in case the said Connty Com-

Plat to be
made.

mipsioners shall so contract, they shall cause a plat of the said
road to be made by a competent surveyor, and filed and
recorded in the office of the clerk of the Circuit Court for
Wicomico county with the deed or deeds conveying the land
go acquired, which plat shall be referred to in and shall be a
part of said deed or deeds, and the lands so conveyed shall be
and become thenceforth the property of Wicomico county, and
be subject to the purposes and uses for which granted. If,
however, the County Commissioners aforesaid shall proceed by
condemnation in the exercise of the powers herein granted, all

Benefits and
damages to
be deter-
mined by
three disin-
terested
persons.

benefits or damages done, suffered or incurred, by the laying
out, opening and making of new roads, or by altering, straight-
ening, widening, grading, improving or closing up in part or
in whole any existing road, or laying out public drains, water
courses or landings, shall be determined or assessed by three
disinterested persons, freeholders and residents of Wicomico
county, and above the age of twenty-one years, who shall be
appointed by the County Commissioners aforesaid, and shall,
within ten days after notice of their appointment, take an oath