1266 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

part any existing street or alley, and for removing trees, posts
and other obstructions therefrom, and for laying out public
squares, drains, watercourses; and all benefits or damages done,
suffered or incurred by laying out, opening and making of
new streets or alleys, or by altering, straightening, widening,
grading, improving or closing up in whole or in part any ex-
isting street or alley or laying out public squares, drains and
watercourses shall be determined and assessed by three disinter-
ested persons, or a majority of them, residents of said town, ap-
pointed by the Commissioners of Denton, who shall within ten
days after notification of their appointment, take an oath before
a Justice of the Peace of Caroline County or any Notary Pub-
lic, that they will faithfully and fairly and without partiality
or prejudice, value and assess the loss and damages to be
suffered and incurred by any person or persons interested in
said property over, through and by which the said street or
alley, square, drain or watercourse is to be opened, closed, ex-
tended, widened, graded or improved, and also to estimate the
benefits that may accrue therefrom to any such property over,
through and by which the said street or alley, drain or water-
course is to be opened, closed, extended, widened, graded or
improved or any property adjacent thereto, or any other prop-
erty injured or benefited by said street, alley, drain, square or
watercourse; they shall give at least ten days' notice in one
or more newspapers published in Caroline County and also
by written or printed notice mailed to the last known post-office
address of the owner or owners of said property, of their pur-
pose to lay out, open, extend, close up, widen, straighten, grade
or improve the street or alley, square, drain or watercourse so
directed to be laid out, opened, extended, closed up, widened,
straightened, graded or improved, and of the day, hour and
place of meeting for the said purpose; and they shall meet at
the time and place mentioned in said notice given by them, and
proceed to exercise the power and perform the duties assigned
to and required of them, and to ascertain whether any and what
amount in value of damages will be caused thereby, for which
the owner or occupant of any right or interest in any ground
or improvement ought to be compensated over and
above the amount in value of benefit which will thereby
accrue to such owner or occupant thereof, and ascer-
tain what amount in value of benefit will thereby accrue
to any lot or parcel of land by or through which the same may
pass or improvements be made, or any other property, or to
the owner or occupant thereof, which the said lot or parcel of