30 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 16

ditions require. Said benefit charges shall be paid annually,
beginning in the year such construction is begun, by all prop-
erties located as above specified, for a period of years co-exten-
sive with the period of maturity of the bonds out of the proceeds
of which such construction was done; provided, however, that
any property owner may, at his option, within one year from
the time said front foot assessment or benefit charge is levied,
extinguish the same by the payment in cash, in one sum, of the
proportion of the estimated cost of the project of which the
construction abutting upon his property is a part, represented
by the number of front feet with which he is assessed, with
interest at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum, from the date
of said levy, less any annual payment that may have been paid
thereon. The Commissioners of Delmar, however, in estimating
said cost for the purpose of extinguishment, may add thereto
a reasonable margin to protect themselves against possible
changes in the cost of construction and the loss of interest. All
sums received under such plan of extinguishment shall be pre-
served intact by the Commissioners of Delmar, less the payment
of the proportion of interest properly chargeable to the amount
so received, and used for future construction. The Commission-
ers of Delmar shall at any time permit a connection with a
sewer by a property owner whose property does not abut on
said sewer, and who has not previous thereto paid a benefit
for the construction of said sewer, provided the said Commis-
sioners of Delmar shall first determine the classification of said
property, and a front foot charge to be paid by said property
owner as though his property abutted on said sewer; 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 said property abut-
ted upon a sewer. The annual benefit charge 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 Commissioners of Delmar before any Justice of the Peace
or the Circuit Court for Wicomico County, and usual execution
thereon. No such annual benefit charge shall continue as a
lien for a period longer than two years from the date from
which the same became in default, unless it is reduced to a
judgment and duly recorded among the records of the Office
of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Wicomico County. Said
benefit charge shall be payable at the office of the Treasurer of
the Commissioners of Delmar immediately upon being levied
and shall be in default after sixty days from that date; and
said levy, and any judgment obtained as a result of the default
of the payment thereof, shall bear interest at the rate of 1 per
cent, a month from and after the time said levy is in default;