912 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 456

costs, with interest thereon, at the rate of fifteen per centum
per annum from the date of sale, and the date of the payment
of such taxes and costs respectively. After the expiration of
said period of twelve calendar months, provided the property
has not been redeemed and the sale has been finally ratified
and confirmed by the Court, the town clerk and treasurer then
in office shall, at the expense of the purchaser, by a good and
sufficient deed executed and acknowledged according to law,
convey to the purchaser or purchasers the parcel or parcels
of land sold to them respectively; and the deed of the successor
in office of the town clerk and treasurer who made the sale
shall be valid in law as though it had been executed and deliv
ered by the said last named town clerk and treasurer.

The Mayor and Council may purchase, in their discretion,
at the tax sale any property offered for sale for the payment
of taxes, provided they shall not bid a sum greater approxi-
mately than the taxes in arrears on said property and the
interest and expenses of sale and costs, and may sell and convey
or lease the same, as in their judgment and discretion shall be
deemed best for the interests of the city.

May Purchase Land, Water Courses, Sewers.

SEC. 17. The said Mayor and Council are authorized to
acquire by purchase from the owner or owners thereof any
real or leasehold estate, improved or unimproved, right of
way, easement, water right or water course, which they may
deem expedient or necessary to purchase and hold for the pur-
pose of building sewers and drains, or for the purpose of con-
structing and operating a general sewerage and drainage sys-
tem of said town, or for the purpose of carrying out or exer-
cising any of the privileges and powers granted said Mayor
and Council by law, and if the said Mayor and Council cannot
agree with the owner or owners, or if any of them be absent
from the State or unknown, or without legal capacity to con-
tract, by reason of infancy, coverture, insanity or otherwise,
it shall be lawful for said Mayor and Council to acquire by
condemnation any such real or leasehold estate, improved or
unimproved, right of way, easement, water right or water
course, in the same manner and by the same proceedings as
are now provided in condemnation by corporations under Chap-
ter 117 of the Acts of General Assembly of 1912.