THEODORE R. MCKELDIN, GOVERNOR 1517

(2) The mayor and council shall pass an ordinance as
other ordinances are passed, directing that the proposed
improvement be made and specifying the course and lo-
cation of the proposed improvement and describing the
property to be taken with sufficient certainty to enable
surveyor to lay the same out, and directing the mayor to
appoint a commission to estimate damages and benefits,
and to obtain such other information specified in said ordi-
nance as the council may desire.

(3) The mayor shall appoint three disinterested per-
sons, residents of Salisbury, to estimate damages and bene-
fits, which appointments shall be ratified by the council.

And in the event that any person or persons so appointed
shall not be ratified by the council, or shall fail to take the
oath hereinafter prescribed within the time limited there-
for, or shall for any reason fail, refuse or be unable to
serve on such commission, then the mayor shall appoint
another or others to serve in the place of such person or
persons, which appointment shall be made in the same
manner and subject to the same ratification as provided
in the first instance.

And the mayor, after the appointment, ratification and
acceptance of said Commissioners, shall issue a commis-
sion in writing under his hand to them authorizing them
to exercise the powers and commanding them to perform
the duties hereinafter required of them.

(4) The three persons so appointed shall within five
days after date of their commission, take oath before a
Justice of the Peace of Wicomico County, that they will
faithfully, fairly and without partiality or prejudice, esti-
mate, in money value, what amount, if any, of damages
will be caused by the proposed improvement to any prop-
erty over, through, by or near which the proposed im-
provement will be made, or to the owner, or occupant of
said property or of any right or interest therein, and will
likewise estimate, in money value, what amount, if any,
of benefit will accrue by reason of the proposed improve-
ment to any property over, through, by or near which the
proposed improvements will be made, or to the owner or
occupant of such property or of any right or interest
therein. The said persons, or a majority of them shall con-
stitute and be a commission with the powers and duties
hereinafter specified.

(5) The said commission shall within five days after
having taken the aforesaid oath, give at least seven days'
notice by advertisement printed in one or more news-