1832.

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP. 180.

nal Company, and by that name may sue and be sued,
plead and be impleaded.
Sec. 2. And be it enacted, That the said company shall
hold a meeting on the last Saturday in April, in the pre-
sent year, and every year hereafter, at the house now occu-
pied as a Justice's office by William Temple in Bullock-
town, in the State of Maryland, or at such other place as
may be determined upon by a resolution of the company
adopted at a previous meeting; and such annual meeting
may be adjourned from time to time as occasion may re-

Choose three com-

missioners

Sec. 3. And be it enacted, That the said company shall
at the first meeting thereof, or at some other meeting to be

To lay out drains

held on some day prior to the last of June, choose by bal-
lot three substantial freeholders as commissioners to lay
out such ditch or ditches, drain or drains, of such breadth,
depth, length, course or courses, distance or distances, as
will be sufficient to clear such marshes and low grounds
of water; and to make a valuation and appraisement of the
said marshes and low grounds, and the said commission-
ers are hereby authorised and empowered to go upon and

Survey

view the said marshes and low grounds, and with the as-
sistance of some skilful Surveyor by them to be appointed
to lay out such ditch or ditches, of such breadth, depth,
length, course or courses, distance or distances, as to them
shall appear to be necessary for the draining and clearing
the said marshes and low grounds on and adjacent to the
said branch,and the several prongs thereof as aforesaid, of
water, and to ascertain all the owners, and determine who

Determine who is

benefitted

will be benefitted by ditching and draining the said marshes
and low grounds, or by any ditches which for the draining
and improving of any marshes or low grounds ought to
be cut and opened into the same, and the quantity of such
marsh or low grounds owned or held by each owner, and
by joint owners if any be held undivided, and the said
commissioners shall value and appraise all the said marshes
and low grounds which in their opinion will or may be
benefitted or improved by the cutting and opening of any
such ditch or ditches, and shall determine the value of

Value and ap-

praise

such marshes and low grounds per acre, as near as may be,
according to the situation thereof, and upon such princi-
ples as will do equal justice to all the owners thereof; but
in determining the quantity, or number of acres of said
marsh or low ground held by any owner or owners as

Estimate.

aforesaid, it shall not be necessary for any actual survey to
be made; but the said commissioners may estimate the