ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR.                  193

streets to be graded, curbed, paved and repaved or improved,
and to assess the costs and expense thereof, in whole or in
part, upon the owner or owners of the abutting property, which
costs and expense for said improvements shall be a lien upon
the abutting property and shall be collectible in the same
manner as other town taxes are now collectible in the town
of Chestertown as prescribed by law, or compel by fines or
otherwise the owner or owners of any such lot to grade, pave,
repave, and curb the sidewalks in front thereof; and may pro-
vide by ordinance for condemning, laying out, opening, extend-
ing and making new streets or alleys and for altering, straight-
ening, widening, grading, improving, or closing up in whole
or in part any existing street or alley, and for removing trees,
posts and other obstructions therefrom, and for laying out
public squares, parks, playgrounds, drains, sewers and water
courses; and all benefits or damages done, suffered or incurred
by laying out, opening and making of new streets or alleys,
or by altering, straightening, widening, grading, improving or
closing up in whole or in part any existing street or alley or
laying out public squares, parks, playgrounds, drains, sewers,,
and water courses shall be determined and assessed by three
disinterested persons, or a majority of them, residents of said
town, appointed by the Mayor and Council of Chestertown,
who shall within ten days after notification of their appoint-
ment, take an oath before a justice of the peace of Kent
County or any notary public, that they will faithfully and
fairly and without partiality or prejudice, value and assess
the loss and damage to be suffered and incurred by any person
or persons interested in said property over, through and by
which the said street or alley, square, park, playground, drain,
sewer or watercourse is to be opened, closed, extended, wid-
ened, graded or improved, and also to estimate the benefits that
may accrue therefrom to any such property over, through and
by which the said street, alley, square, park, playground, drain,
sewer or water course is to be opened, closed, extended, wid-
ened, graded or improved or any property adjacent thereto, or
any other property injured or benefited by said street, alley,
square, park, playground, drain, sewer or water course; they
shall give at least ten days' notice in one or more newspapers
published in Kent County and also by a written or printed
notice mailed to the last known postoffice address of the owner
or owners of said property, of their purpose to lay out, open,
7