928 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 458

alleys, and for abandoning, altering, straightening, widening,
grading, improving or closing up in whole or in part any exist-
ing street or alley, and for removing trees, posts and other ob-
structions, and for laying out public squares, drains, sewers
and watercourses; and all benefits conferred or damages done,
suffered or incurred by laying out, opening and making of
new streets or alleys, or by altering, straightening, widening,
grading, improving or closing up in whole or in part any exist-
ing street or alley, and for removing trees, posts and other ob-
structions, and for laying out public squares, drains, sewers and
watercourses; and all benefits or damages done, suffered or in-
curred by laying out, opening and making of new streets or al-
leys, or by altering, straightening, widening, grading, improving
or closing up in part any existing street or alley or laying out
public squares, drains and watercourses shall be determined and
assessed by three disinterested persons, or a majority of them,
residents of said city, approved by the Mayor and approved by
the Council, who shall within ten days after notification of their
appointment, take an oath before a justice of the peace of Som-
erset County that they will faithfully and fairly, and without
partiality or prejudice value and assess the loss and damage to
be suffered and incurred by any person or persons interested in
said property over, through or by which the said street or alley,
square, drain or watercourse is to be opened, closed, extended,
widened, graded or improved, and also to estimate the benefits
that may accrue therefrom to any such property over, through
and by which the said street or alley, drain or watercourse is to
be opened, closed, extended, widened, graded or improved, or
any property adjacent thereto or any other property injured or
benefited by said street, alley, drain, square or watercourse;
they shall give at least ten days' notice, in one or more news-
papers published in said city of their purpose to lay out, open,
extend, close up, widen, straighten, grade or improve the street
or alley, square, drain or watercourse so directed to be laid out,
opened, extended, closed up, widened, straightened, graded, or
improved, and of the day, hour and place of meeting for the
said purpose; and they shall meet at the time and place men-
tioned in said notice given by them, and to proceed to exercise
the power and perform the duties assigned to and required oi
them, and to ascertain whether any and what amount in value
of damages will be caused thereby, for which the owner or
occupant of any right or interest in any ground or improve-
ment ought to be compensated over and above the amount in
value of benefit which will thereby accrue to such owner or