LAWS OF MARYLAND.

73

their several subscriptions, and of all monies expended in the prose-
cution of their said work, and shall at least once in every year sub-
mit such accounts to a general meeting of the stockholders.

Dec. Ses. 1823

12 And be it enacted, That the said president, managers and com-

pany, shall also keep a just and true account of all the monies to be
received by their several and respective collectors of tolls, and shall
make a dividend of the clear profits and income thereof, all contin-
gent costs and charges being first deducted, among all the stockhol-
ders in proportion to the number of shares by them respectively held,
and shall on the first Mondays of January and July, in every year,
publish the half yearly dividend to be made of the clear profits among
the stockholders, and of the time and place, when and where, the
same shall be paid, and shall cause the same to be done accordingly.

Dividends.

13. And be it enacted, That the proprietors of the said bridge shall
in no case demand or receive toll for the passage of the troops in the
service of this suite, or of the United States, or for any public ex-
presses or property whatever belonging to this state,—and whereas,
it is necessary for the building of the said bridge, that provision
should be made for condemning a quantity of land sufficient for the
abutment and a toll house, as well as for a road to said bridge, if it
should be located beyond the present road;—Therefore,

Exemption
from tolls.

14 Be it enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the said
president and managers, or a majority of them to agree with the ow-

ner or owners of any land on which it is intended to abut the said
bridge and build a toll house, or through which it may be necessary
to extend a road, for the purchase thereof, and in case of disagree-
ment or in case the owner or owners thereof shall be a feme-covert
under age, non compos, or out of the state, on application to a justice
of the peace of Washington County, the said justice shall issue his
warrant under his hand to the sheriff of Washington County, to sum-
mon a jury of twelve inhabitants of his county, not related to the
owner or owners, nor in any manner interested, to meet on the land
to be valued, at a day to be expressed in the warrant, not less than
ten nor more than twenty days thereafter; and the sheriff upon re-
ceiving the said warrant shall forthwith summon the said jury, and
when met shall administer an oath or affirmation to every juryman
who shall appear, being not less than six in number, that he will
faithfully, justly and impartially, value the land required by the com-
pany, according to the best of his skill and judgment, and that in such
valuation he will not spare any person for favor or affection, nor any
person grieve for malice, hatred or ill-will, and the requisition there-
upon taken shall be signed by the sheriff, and some six or more of the
jury, and returned by the sheriff to the clerk of his county to be by
him recorded; and upon such valuation the jury is hereby directed to
describe and ascertain the bounds of the land 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 de-
mand be paid for by the said president and managers to the owner or
owners of the land, or his, her or their legal representatives, and on
payment or tender of payment thereof, or deposits of the same in the
Hager's-Town Bank, to the credit of the person or persons entitled
thereto, the said company shall be seized of such land as of an abso-
lute estate in perpetuity, as shall be described as aforesaid, as if con-

Land for
abutments

and road.

veyed by the owner or owner, to them;--provided, that if the said
bridge shall be abutted on the land of any person or persons now own-

Proviso.