1186 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

estate, spring, brook, water and water courses, to dig, bore and
sink wells, to erect any and all reservoirs, storage dams and
standpipes for the storage of water, as may be necessary and
expedient; to lay all pipes and conduits, erect fire plugs, to
purchase all necessary machinery, supplies and material neces-
sary to be used in building, constructing, operating or main-
taining said waterworks or extending the same, to make and
construct sewers, to purchase all material and supplies neces-
sary, to employ all necessary labor, or they may, in their discre-
tion, let out the whole or any part of said work to contractors
as they may deem to the best interest of said town, and they
are authorized to employ engineers, superintendents and fore-
men to lay out and supervise said work.

SEC. 7. And be it enacted, That if the said Burgess and Com-
missioners can not agree with the owner or owners of any real
estate or leasehold estate, spring, brook, stream, water or
water course, or with the owner or owners of any real or lease-
hold estate or land through which it may be necessary to have
a right of entry or passage for conveying water or constructing
a sewer, or if such owner or owners is or are incapable of con-
tracting or is absent from Washington County or unknown, it
shall be lawful for the said the Burgess and Commissioners of
Hancock, and it is hereby authorized and empowered to acquire
the same by condemnation in the manner set forth in Sections
251 and 252 of Article 23 of the Code of Public General Laws
of Maryland, and any amendments thereto and the provisions
thereof to meet conditions as required are hereby made appli-
cable to any and all proceedings of condemnation which may be
necessary by said Burgess and Commissioners.

SEC. 8. And be it enacted, That the title to said waterworks
and all lands, estate, water courses, water ways, reservoirs,
dams, wells, conduits, pipes, fire plugs, machinery, appliances
and any and all parts thereof whatsoever, and all property and
things belonging or appertaining thereto, shall vest in the
Burgess and Commissioners of Hancock, as also any and all
,sewers that it may lay out and construct.

SEC. 9. And be it enacted, That the said Burgess and Com-
missioners are authorized to fix rates for the use and consump-
tion of water supplied for any purpose, and may, in their -dis-
cretion, place meters or other appliances for the purpose of
measuring the water used by consumers and make a rate or
charge therefor accordingly, and may likewise, in their discre-
tion, impose a reasonable charge for the tapping or use of any
sewers that may be made or laid out by said Burgess and Com-
missioners.