1158                      LAWS OF MARYLAND.                  [CH. 459

vided, however, that such permits as to underground construc-
tion shall be in addition to those required by existing law; to
contract for periods not exceeding five years with any public
or private corporation or any person for suppling the district
or the inhabitants thereof with gas or electricity or for any
general municipal purpose except the furnishing of water or
sewer service; provided, however, that such contracts shall be
let only after thirty days' notice calling for bids for such
purpose or purposes has been given in some newspaper of gen-
eral circulation in the district, and the said board may in its
discretion, reject any or all bids, whereupon such contract or
contracts shall be awarded by ordinance; to provide by ordi-
nance for condemning, laying out, opening, extending and mak-
ing new streets or alleys and pedestrian routes or sidewalks and
for altering, straightening, widening, grading, improving or
closing up in whole or in part any existing street or alley; and
to assess the total cost of any proportion thereof against abut-
ting property, where such work is to be financed by special or
front-foot benefit assessment; to acquire by gift, dedication,
purchase, condemnation or otherwise all and any interest what-
soever in any land, buildings and materials by the said board
deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act, and for
the purposes of performing their duties as the District Council
for the Montgomery County Suburban District, the said Coun-
ty Commissioners are authorized and empowered to acquire
land for public purposes by condemnation, as fully and with
all power possessed by any private or public corporation of this
State and in exercising the power of eminent domain herein
granted said County Commissioners shall proceed in the man-
ner provided by the laws of the State of Maryland relating to
condemnation as if the said County Commissioners were a
municipal corporation named in said laws; to fix specifications
of and issue permits for the construction of streets, sidewalks,
curbs and gutters by any subdivide^ developer or individual,
to require compliance therewith and to provide for the inspec-
tion and supervision of such work, the cost thereof to be borne
by such subdivide!, developer or individual; to regulate and
control the collection and disposal of ashes, trash, garbage and
other refuse in said district; to establish and maintain such
service as may be deemed necessary or desirable for the pro-
tection of the health and safety of the public in the collecting
and disposing of garbage, ashes, trash and refuse, and for the
cleaning of streets, alleys and sidewalks; to license or contract