1588 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

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 Preston, 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 con-
nected therewith to the Clerk of said Court, and the same pro-
ceeding shall be had on appeal as in the case of appeals from
judgments of Justices of the Peace; provided, nevertheless, that
the Commissioners of Preston may decline to open, lay out, ex-
tend, widen, grade or straighten any street, alley or highway
or any square, waterway or drain, notwithstanding the decision
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 benefits
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 alter the
award so returned, whether of damages or benefits, and award
costs in its discretion. On final ratification of any report of
the assessors appointed under the provisions of this Section,
the Secretary to the Commissioners shall at once record in a
book kept for that purpose the said return, plat and all pro-
ceedings connected therewith. And if for any reason the per-
son to whom damages are awarded refuses to receive the damages
assessed, or from infancy or any other cause are prevented from
receiving and receipting for same, the damages so assessed shall
be deposited in some bank of Caroline County, paying interest
on deposits, if any, to the credit of the person entitled to such
damages, and thereupon the Commissioners of Preston may pro-
ceed in the same way as if said damages had been paid to the
person or persons themselves.

SEC. 25. And be it further enacted, That all able-bodied
male citizens residing in the Town of Preston, twenty-one years
of age and over, shall be compelled to labor one day of ten hours
in every year on the public streets of said town; provided, how-
ever, no person shall be required to labor as aforesaid, who may
furnish a substitute or pay to the Bailiff the sum of one dollar
in lieu of said labor, and any person who shall refuse to obey
the summons of the Bailiff for labor on the public streets shall
be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon complaint made
by the Bailiff, shall be arrested and taken before a Justice of
the Peace for Caroline County, upon a warrant to be issued by