THEODORE R. MCKELDIN, GOVERNOR 273

longing to any person, persons, corporation or corpora-
tions (whether such corporation be public or private, and
whether such property, right or interest be impressed with
a prior public or quasi-public use or not) for the purpose
of making public improvements. Public improvements
shall be construed to mean sewers, drains, disposal plants,
public buildings, water systems, water works, water and
water courses, rights of way, streets, alleys [and], other
public ways and sidewalks [. ], parks and parking lots.
The manner of procedure in case of any condemnation pro-
ceeding shall be that established in Article 33A of the An-
notated Code of Maryland, title "Eminent Domain, " except
that for the purpose of relocating, opening, widening and
closing of streets, alleys and public highways the following
additional procedure is authorized:

[(1)] (b) The council may, upon its own motion, or
at the suggestion of the mayor, or at the instance of any
citizen or citizens, of Salisbury, if he IT sees fit so to do, by
order, motion, resolution, or ordinance, MAY determine to
undertake any improvement which IT is authorized to
make, and shall thereupon direct the city engineer, or some
other competent person, to prepare a map or plat of the
proposed improvement. The validity of the proceedings
shall in no measure depend upon the taking of this pre-
liminary step, it being intended merely as a means of plac-
ing before the Council accurate information as to the work
to be done.

[(2)3 (c) The mayor and council shall pass an ordi-
nance as other ordinances are passed, directing that the
proposed improvement be made and specifying the course
and location 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)] (d) The mayor shall appoint three disinterested
persons, residents of Salisbury, to estimate damages and
benefits, 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
therefor, 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