ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR. 231

ways, avenues, streets, lanes, alleys and parks; provided, how-
ever, that no franchise of the city shall be granted to any cor-
poration or individual, unless notice of the same shall have
been first published for at least two weeks in two newspapers of
the City of Cumberland; and no franchise, right or privilege
in relation to any highways, avenues, streets, alleys, lanes or
parks, either on, above or below the surface of the same, shall
be granted by the Mayor and City Council to any person or
corporation for a longer period than twenty-five years..

67. The said Mayor and City Council are authorized to
acquire by purchase from the owner or owners any land, real
or leasehold estate, improved or unimproved, right of way, ease-
ment, water right or water course which they may conceive ex-
pedient or necessary to purchase and hold for the purpose of
building sewers or drains or for the purpose of constructing
and operating a general sewerage and drainage system for said
city or for the purpose of carrying out or exercising any of
the powers and privileges granted said Mayor and City Coun-
cil by law, and if the said Mayor and City Council cannot
agree with said owner or owners, or if said owner or owners,
or any of them be absent from the State or unknown or with-
out legal capacity to contract, by reason of infancy, coverture,
insanity or otherwise, it shall be lawful for the said Mayor
and City Council to secure by condemnation any such land,
real or leasehold estate, improved or unimproved, right of way,
easement, water right or water course which they may deem
necessary for the purpose of building or operating any sewer
or sewers, or drain or drains, or for a general sewerage or
drainage system, or for any of the public purposes for which
said Mayor and City Council are granted powers by law, in the
same manner and by the same proceedings as are now provided
for in condemnation by corporations under Article 23, Sections
399, etc., of the Code of Public General Laws of the State of
Maryland.

68. The Mayor and City Council of Cumberland shall have
the right to enlarge, improve, alter and re-construct the water
works and system of the City of Cumberland, with power, from
time to time, to contract for, purchase, lease and hold in fee
simple or for a term of years any land, real estate, spring,
brook, water and water course, and also the right to use and
occupy forever or for a term of years any land, real estate,
spring, brook, or water course which they may deem expedient
and necessary for the purpose of conveying water into said