694 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

may fix the dimensions thereof which in their judgment the
public welfare or convenience may require; to provide for as-
certaining whether any, and if so, what amount in damage will
be caused thereby for which the owner or possessor of any
property through or over which such street or alley may pass
or square or park may lie, ought to be compensated and paid;
and for assessing and laying either generally on the whole as-
sessable property within the city or specially on the property
of persons specially benefited by such improvement, the whole
or any part of the damages and expenses which may be in-
curred in laying out, opening, extending, straightening or wid-
ening such street, lane or alley, square or park; to provide (in
case they shall determine to levy and assess the whole or any
part of said damages and expenses upon the owners of the
property in the city specially benefited by such improvement)
for the appointment amongst them of the amount of such dam-
age and expenses so determined, to be levied upon them in due
proportion to the amount of benefits by them, respectively, re-
ceived ; to provide for the appointment of commissioners to as-
sess said damages and benefits and perscribe their duties and
compensation; to provide for the condemnation of all land and
property so taken for public use in opening, extending, straight-
ening or widening, in whole or in part, any street, lane or alley
as aforesaid, and for the notice to be given in relation thereto;
to provide for the payment of the damages so awarded, and
for the mode of payment, and collection of the benefits so deter-
mined to be assessed; and to pass all ordinances necessary and
proper to the exercise and enforcement of the powers granted
in this section; provided, however, that no land or property
shall be taken under the powers given in this section without
just compenastion being first paid or tendered to the party
entitled to such compensation, as agreed on with the owners
of such property or awarded by a jury summoned for the pur-
pose by the sheriff of Carroll county, in the mode and at the
time prescribed by said Mayor and Common Council; and pro-
vided further, that provision is made in all such ordinances
for reasonable notice to the person whose land is to be con-
demned or against whom benefits are to be assessed, with the
right of appeal to the Circuit Court for Carroll County by
any and all persons interested, including the Mayor and Com-
mon Council, from the decision of the jury of condemnation,
or persons appointed or authorized to assess such damages or
benefits.

STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.

SEC. 231. The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster
shall have the power to provide by ordinance for the grading,