1128 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

money upon the taxable property of their respective counties,
and each to pay annually the sum so levied to the Pocomoke
Bridge Company, in consideration of the use, free from tolls,
of the drawbridge of the said Pocomoke Bridge Company by
all residents and non-resident taxpayers of Somerset County
and all residents and non-resident taxpayers of Worcester
County, their beasts and vehicles.

Whereas, the Pocomoke Bridge Company, a corporation incor-
porated by Chapter 14 of the Acts of 1865, under the powers
therein conferred, has built and is now the owner of a draw-
bridge over the Pocomoke River connecting Somerset and
Worcester Counties, it being the only bridge crossing said
river south of Snow Hill; and,

Whereas, the said bridge is much used by the residents of both
o/ the said counties, and from long use has become not only a
convenience to the residents of both of said counties, but
also has become essential and necessary to many of them in
the transaction and prosecution of their business; and,

Whereas, by the terms of said Acts of 1865 and the decisions
of the Courts thereon, the Pocomoke Bridge Company is enti-
tled to charge tolls for all persons, beasts and vehicles cross-
ing the said bridge; and,

Whereas, the public interests and the public convenience re-
quire that all residents of either of said counties and all non-
resident taxpayers in either of said counties, their beasts and
vehicles, shall pass over the said bridge free of all charge for
tolls, and that in consideration of the free use of said bridge
and to reimburse the Pocomoke Bridge Company therefor
the County Commissioners of each of the said counties shall

- levy upon the taxable property of their respective counties a
reasonable sum of money, to be paid to the said Pocomoke
Bridge Company annually; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That if the Pocomoke Bridge Company shall accept the
provisions of this Act as hereinafter specified, the County
Commissioners of Somerset County be and they are hereby re-
quired to levy annually on the taxable property of the said
county the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00), and they
shall pay over the said sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00)
so levied on or before the first day of March next following its
levy to the Pocomoke Bridge Company, and likewise that the
County Commissioners of Worcester Company be and they are
hereby required to levy annually upon the taxable property of
said county the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), and
to pay over the said one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) so levied