T. HOLLIDAY HICKS, ESQ., GOVERNOR.

1860.

through which it may be necessary to extend a
road, for the purchase thereof, and in case of disa-
greement, or in case the owner or owners shall be
a feme covert, under age, non compos, or out of the
State, on application to a justice of the peace of the
county, the said justice shall issue his warrant,
under his hand and seal, to the sheriff of Talbot,
or to the sheriff of Caroline county, respectively,
wherein the said property may be sought to be con-
demned, to summon a jury of twenty freeholders
of said county, not related to the parties, or in any
manner interested, to meet on the lands to be
valued, at a day to be expressed in the warrant, not
less than ten days after the date of said warrant,
and the sheriff, upon receiving said warrant, shall
forthwith summon a jury, and when met, shall ad-
minister an oath or affirmation to every juryman
who shall appear, being not less than twelve in
number, that he will faithfully, justly and impar-
tially value the land required by the company ac-
cording to the best of his skill and judgment, and
that in such valuation he will not spare any person
for favor or affection, or any person aggrieve for

CHAP. 110.

In case of
disagreement,
jury may be
summoned to
assess dam-
ages.

malice, hatred or ill-will, and the inquisition
thereupon taken shall be signed by the jury, and
sheriff of each of said counties respectively wherein
the land so sought to be condemned, and returned
by the sheriff of said counties, to the clerks of their
respective counties, and unless good cause be shown
against said requisition, it shall be affirmed by the
Circuit courts of the said counties wherein such
condemnation may take place, but if the said in-
quisition shall be set aside, or if from any cause no
inquisition shall be returned to such courts within
a reasonable time, the said courts may direct an-
other inquisition to be taken in the manner above
prescribed, and upon such valuation, the jury is
hereby directed to describe and ascertain the bounds
of the lands by them valued, and the nature of the
estate required by the company in the same, and
their valuation shall be conclusive on all persons,
and shall on demand be paid for by the president
and directors of said company to the owner or
owners of the land, or his, her, or their legal repre-

Certificate of
award to be
filed with the
clerk of Cir-
cuit court.

sentatives, and on payment or tender of payment
thereof, the said company shall be seized of such
lands as of an absolute estate in fee, or with such
less quantity and duration of interest in the same

Valuation,
when tender-
ed, may enti-
tle company
to property.