578 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 245

done; provided, however, that any property owner may, at his
option, within one year from the time said front-foot assess-
ment or benefit charge is levied extinguish the same by the
payment in cash, in one sum, of the proportion of the esti-
mated cost of the project of which the construction abutting
upon his property is a part, represented by the number of
front feet which he is assessed, with interest at the rate of six
per cent, per annum from the date of said levy, less than any
annual payment that may have been made thereon. The com-
mission, however, in estimating said cost for the purpose of
extinguishment may add thereto a reasonable margin to pro-
tect itself against possible changes in the cost of construction
and loss of interest. All sums received under such plan of ex-
tinguishment shall be preserved intact by said commission less
the payment of the proportion of interest and sinking fund
properly chargeable to the amount so received, and used for
future construction; and provided further, that any property
owner, whose property is classified under business or industrial,
or sub-division, may, at his option, at any time during the life
of said assessment or benefit charge extinguish the same by
payment in cash of an amount, which, if put at interest at
three and a half per cent, compounded annually, would yield
an annuity equal to the annual assessment for the period for
which said assessment has vet to run. The commission shall

at any time permit a connection with a water main or sewer
by a property owner whose property does not abut on said
water main or sewer and who has not previously thereto paid
a benefit charge for the construction of said water main or
sewer, provided said commission shall classify said property
and determine a front-foot charge to be paid by said property
owner as though his property abutted upon said water main
or sewer; and in the event of such connection being made, said
property owner and said property, as to all charges, rates and
benefits shall stand in every respect in the same position as if
the said property abutted upon a water main or sewer. 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 en-
forced by a judgment upon the complaint of the commission
before any justice of the peace or the Circuit Court for the
county in which said land is situated and usual execution
thereon. Service upon the defendant named in said complaint
shall be by summons as is usual in debt cases, and in the event