476

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAPTER 308.

Passed Mar.
10, 1856.

AN ACT to authorise the County Commissioners of
the several Counties in this State to build bridges
in their respective counties, and to levy for the cost
thereof.

County Com-
missioners au-
thorised to
build and re-
pair bridges.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly

of Maryland, That from and after the passage of
this act, it shall be lawful for the county commission-
ers of the several counties of this State to build and
repair bridges in their respective counties, and to levy
upon the property of the county therefor, as herein-
after provided.

Application
to be made to
commissioners.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That all applications
for building or repairing bridges shall be made by
petition to the county commissioners, and when any
person or persons intend to apply for building or re-
pairing any bridge or bridges, they shall first give no-
tice in the same manner, and for the same length of
time, that persons are now required by law to give notice
of their intention to apply for opening or closing roads,
for the purpose of giving those who may be opposed
to the building or repairing of said bridge or bridges
an opportunity to make their objections by counter
petition; and when the county commissioners shall
have heard the reasons and evidences, both for and
against the building or repairing of said bridge or
bridges, they shall determine the case in such manner
as in their judgment will best promote the public
convenience.

Authorised to
levy.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That whenever the
county commissioners shall have determined to build or
repair any bridge or bridges, they shall, at their usual
time for levying taxes, levy on the assessable proper-
ty of the county in which such bridge or bridges are
to be built or repaired, a sum of money sufficient to
to pay for the said bridge or bridges, and the em-
bankments and abutments thereunto belonging.

Bridges to be
built or repair-
ed by contract.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That all bridges, built
or repaired under this act, shall be built or repaired
by contract; for which purpose the county commis-
sioners shall advertise in one or more newspapapers :
and if there shall be no newspaper published in
said county or counties, then by such public notice
as the county commissioners shall deem most advi-
sable, setting forth the place where said bridge is to
be built or repaired, with full specifications of the