LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 370

may not extend along the full length of any boundary; and,
provided, further, that in the case of irregular shaped lots,
and shallow lots fronting on more than one street, the Com-
missioners of Leonardtown may determine upon for assess-
ment, and may assess, such length of frontage as they deem
reasonable and fair. Front feet benefit charges for water
supply construction shall be uniform for each class of prop-
erty throughout the town, and no benefit charge once levied

shall be increased. The amount of the charge per front foot
for each class of property for water mains shall be determined
from time to time by the Commissioners of Leonardtown as
costs and conditions require. Said benefit charges shall be
paid annually beginning in the year such construction is be-

gun, by all properties located as above specified, for a period
of years coextensive with the period of maturity of the bonds
out of the proceeds of which such construction was done; pro-
vided, however, that any owner of property in the sub-division
or business or industrial class may, at his option, extinguish
at any time said benefit charge by the payment, in cash, of an
amount which if put at interest at 3 1/4%, compounded an-
nually, would yield an annuity equal to the annual assess-
ments for the period for which the bonds have, at the time the
option is exercised, still to run. The Commissioners of Leon-
ardtown shall at any time permit a connection with a water
main by a property owner whose property does not abut on
said water main, and who has not previous thereto paid a bene-
fit for the construction of said water main, provided the said

Commissioners of Leonardtown shall first determine the classi-
fication of said property, and a front foot charge to be paid
by said property owner as though his property abutted on
said water main; and in the event of such connection being
made, said property owner and said property as to all charges,
rates and benefits, shall in every respect stand in the same
position as if the property abutted upon a water main. The

annual benefit charges as above specified shall be a first lien
upon the property against which they are assessed, subject

only to prior State, county and municipal charges, and shall
be enforced by a judgment upon complaint of the Commission-
ers of Leonardtown before any Justice of the Peace or Circuit
Court of St. Mary's County, and usual execution thereon.
No such annual benefit charges shall continue as a lien for a

period longer than two years from the date from which the