486 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

354. All applications for opening, altering, relocating or
closing roads shall be by petition to the Highways Commission,
and whenever any freeholder of the county shall desire to have
opened a new road for the public benefit or an old one altered,
relocated or closed, he shall give notice of his intention to
apply therefor by publication in one or more of the county
newspapers for three successive weeks, setting forth as near as
may be the length, location and termini thereof, the names of
the abutting property owners, and the date on which he will
appear before the Commission and ask for the order on such
petition. In addition to such notice by publication he shall
cause a copy of said advertisement to be served upon such abut-
ting property owners where personal service is practicable, and
where not practicable to be left on the premises with the per-
son in charge thereof. Within ten days after the last publica-
tion of such notice he shall file his petition with the Highways
Commission, together with a certificate of publication of the
notice aforesaid, and a certificate of the person serving such
notices as to the service of the same. Counter petitions or
objections to the opening, altering or closing of such road may
be filed by anyone interested at any time before the date fixed
for the hearing on such petition, and whether there be objec-
tions or not to the granting of such petition, the Commission
shall on the day fixed in such notice hear such evidence as may
be offered, and pass on said petition or sustain or overrule such
objections, or, in its discretion, withhold its decision until it
has had an opportunity to investigate the matter, or until a
final hearing of the matter after the report of examiners ap-
pointed as hereinafter provided, if it shall decide that it is ex-
pedient to appoint such examiners. If the petition be for the
opening, altering or selecting of a road and there be no objec-
tion to the granting of the same, or if there be such objection
and the Commission decide that it is expedient that such peti-
tion shall be granted, and no appeal be taken from such deci-
sion as hereinafter provided, or if such appeal be taken and dis-
missed, said Commission shall have the power to contract with
the owner or owners of land through which the road is intended
to run for the right of way necessary for said road, if he, she or
they be competent to contract, and in case the said Commission
shall so contract, it shall cause a plat of the said road to be
made by the County Surveyor under the direction of the Roads
Engineer, and filed and recorded in the office of the clerk of the
Circuit Court for Baltimore county, which said 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 the county in the same manner and to the same extent as
other. county roads, and shall be kept in repair as such; and at