PHILLIPS LEE GOLDSBOROUGH, GOVERNOR. 671

alleys, or by altering, straightening, widening, grading, improv-
ing or closing up, in whole or in part, any existing street or
alley, or laying out public squares, drains, water-courses or
sewers shall be determined by three disinterested persons, resi-
dents of said town, appointed by the Commissioners of Leonard-
town, who shall take an oath before some justice of the peace
that they will fairly, without partiality or prejudice, value and
assess the loss and damages to be suffered and incurred by any
person interested, also to estimate the benefits that may accrue
therefrom to each interested person. They shall locate bounda-
ries and prepare an explanatory map giving description of
street or alley opened, closed, extended, widened, straightened
or' improved or public square drain or sewer located and estab-
lished, with each separate lot or parcel of ground deemed to
have sustained damages or received benefits, and they shall
within thirty days, return to the Commissioners such maps, to-
gether with the amount of damages awarded such owner or
occupant, and the amount of benefits assessed to any lot or the
owner thereof, together with a certificate of their qualification,
which may be ratified or rejected, or altered or amended, in
whole or in part, by the Commissioners of Leonardtown. The
said Commissioners shall pay or tender to the person, his agent,
guardian or representative, the amount of damages so awarded
by them, and if any one should feel aggrieved by the decision
of the Commissioners, who is in any manner affected by their
decision, he may appeal to the Circuit Court for St. Mary's
County, by giving written notice within twenty days from said
decision, filed with the Treasurer of said Commissioners, of his
desire to appeal; and on the filing of said notice the Commis-
sioners shall cause to be delivered the papers connected there-
with to the clerk of said Court, and the same procedings shall be
had on the appeal as in cases of appeal from judgments of jus-
tices of the peace; provided, nevertheless, that "The Commis-
sioners of Leonardtown" may decline to open, layout, extend,
widen, grade or straighten any street, alley, or highway, or im-
prove or construct any public square drain or sewer, notwith-
standing the decision of the Court; but, in case of refusal to do
so, they shall be liable for all costs incurred, and shall pay
the same. On appeal the court or jury may alter the award so
returned, whether the damages or benefits, and award costs in its
discretion, and benefits assessed by virtue of the above provision
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
return made to '' The Commissioners of Leonardtown'' and shall