996 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

making if new streets or alleys, or by altering, straightening,
widening, grading, improving 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 disinter-
ested persons, residents of said town, appointed by the Commis-
sioners of Leonardtown, 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 bene-
fits that may accrue therefrom to each interested person. They
shall locate boundaries 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 established, 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,
together 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 Commission-
ers shall cause to be delivered the papers connected therewith to
the clerk of said court, and the same proceedings shall be had
on the 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, lay out, 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 re-
turned, 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"