1842

FRANCIS THOMAS, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

CHAP. 183.

Right of Le-
gislature re-
served.

SEC. 8. And be it enacted, That this act of incorpora-
tion shall enure for thirty years from its passage, and that
the legislature reserves to itself the right to alter or annul
this act of incorporation at pleasure.

Issues forbid.

SEC. 9. And be it enacted, That nothing in this act be
construed so as to authorize the said corporation to issue
any note, token, device, scrip or other evidence of debt to
be used as currency.

CHAPTER 183.

Passed Feb.
17, 1843.

An act for the protection of Mechanics and others in Wash-
ington and Cecil Counties.

Buildings
erected in Wa-
shington and
Cecil subject
to lien, except
in case of con-
tract.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That every building erected in Washington or
Cecil county shall be subject to a lien for payment of all
debts contracted for work done, or meterials furnished for,
or about the erection or construction of the same; provided,
that no lien shall attack or take effect in any case whatever,
where materials or supplies shall he furnished to any con-
tractor, who may have contracted with the owner of said
building for erecting the same in whole or in a part for a
specified sum.

Lien to extend
to the lot on
which house
stands.
Proviso.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That said lien shall extend
to the lot on which said building is erected, and connected
with it at the time of the erection; provided, said lot shall
not contain more than three acres.

Accounts and
contracts to be
proven.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That all accounts or con-
tracts for work done or materials furnished, shall be-
fore being recorded in the county records of the county,
where such building may be erected, be proven before some
justice of the peace, in the usual form for the probate of
accounts, and such account or contract with the probate
shall be sent to the clerk of the county, who shall enter the
amount of such lien upon the record to be kept for that
purpose.

Lien to be
filed within
sixty days.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That the lien hereby given
shall not attack and take effect, unless the person or persons
entitled to such lien shall file his claim with said clerks of
county courts, in sixty days after the furnishing of such
building, and that no lien shall take place under the provi-
sions of this act where an express contract exists, between
the owner of a building and the builder thereof in whole or
in part, unless such contract shall be fulfilled on the part of