PHILLIPS LEE GOLDSBOROUGH, GOVERNOR. 1267

land, or the owner or occupant thereof ought to pay. They
shall locate boundaries and prepare an explanatory map giving
description of the street or alley opened, closed, extended,
widened, straightened or improved, with each separate lot or
parcel of land deemed to have sustained damages or received
benefits, and they shall within twenty days return to the Com-
missioners of Denton such map, together with the amount of
damages awarded to such owner or occupants and the amount
of benefits assessed to any lot or parcel of ground, or the
owner thereof, together with a certificate of their qualifications,
which may be ratified, or rejected or altered and amended, in
whole or in part, by said Commissioners of Denton; provided
that the Commissioners of Denton, shall give at least ten days'
notice by publication in one of the newspapers published in said
County and at least ten days' notice mailed to the last known
post-office address of the owner or owners of said property so
interested, of the time set for final action on the return of
said assessors, and said Commissioners of Denton shall act on
said return within twenty days after the expiration of said
notice, and may issue a new commission as in their judgment
may seem proper, and before actually proceeding to open, widen,
extend, straighten or close any such street or alley the Com-
missioners of Denton shall pay or tender to the person, his
agent, guardian or representative the amount of damages so
awarded; and if anyone shall feel aggrieved by the decision of
the Commissioners of Denton, in any matter affected by their
decision, he may appeal to the Circuit Court of Caroline County,
by giving written notice within twenty days from said decision,
filed with the Secretary of the Commissioners of Denton, of
his desire to appeal; and on the filing of the said notice it
shall be the duty of the said Secretary to deliver the papers
connected therewith' to the Clerk of said Court, and the same
proceedings shall be had on appeal as in the case of appeals
from judgments of Justices of the Peace; provided, nevertheless
that the Commissioners of Denton may decline to open, lay out,
extend, widen, grade or straighten any street, alley, or high-
way or any square, waterway or drain, notwithstanding the de-
cision of said Court; but in case of refusal so to do they shall
be liable for all costs incurred, and shall pay the same, all ben-
efits assessed by virtue of the above provisions shall be liens
on the respective lots or parcels of ground on which they are
assessed from the time of the final ratification of the aforesaid
return, and shall be collected as taxes are collected, or may be
collected by action at law. On appeal the Court or Jury may