ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR. 619

prejudice value a,nd assess the cost of damages to be suffered
and incurred by any persons interested in the said property
over, through and by which the said road, bridge or drain is
to be opened, closed, extended, widened, graded or improved;
and also to estimate the benefits that may accrue therefrom
to any such property owner, through and by which the said
road, bridge or drain is to be opened, closed, extended,
widened, graded or improved or any property adjacent there-
to, or any other property injured or benefited by said road,
bridge or drain; they shall give at least fifteen days' notice in
a newspaper published in St. Mary's County of their purpose
to lay out, open, extend, close up, widen, straighten grade or
improve the road, bridge, or drain as directed to be laid out,
opened, extended, closed up, widened, straightened, graded or
improved and of the day, hour and place of meeting for that
purpose; and they shall meet at the time and place mentioned
in the notice given by them and proceed to exercise the powers
and perform the duty assigned to and required of them, and
to ascertain whether any and what amount in value of the
damages will be caused thereby for which the owner or occu-
pant of any rights or interest, claimed in any ground or im-
provement ought to be compensated, over and above the
amount in value of benefits which will thereby accrue to said
owner or occupant thereof, and ascertain what amount in
value of benefits will thereby accrue to any lot or parcel of
ground by or through which the same may pass, or improve-
ments made, or any other property or to the owner or occu-
pant thereof, and which said lot or parcel of ground, or the
owner or occupant thereof ought to pay. They shall locate
boundaries and prepare an explanatory map giving a descrip-
tion of the road opened, closed, extended, widened, straight-
ened, or bridge or drain, with each separate lot or parcel of
ground deemed to have sustained damage or received benefit,
and they shall, within twenty days, return to the County Com-
missioners such maps, together with the amount of damage
awarded such owner or occupant and the amount of benefits
assessed to any lot or parcel of ground or the owner thereof,
together with a certificate of their qualifications, which may
be ratified or rejected or allowed or amended in whole or in
part by the County Commissioners; provided, that the County
Commissioners shall give ten days' notice at least by publica-
tion in a newspaper published in St. Mary's County or by