Theodore R. McKeldin, Governor                  1115

308. When said plats are so recorded, those portions of said land
designated on said plats as streets, roads, avenues, lanes, alleys and
public parks or squares, shall be and the same are hereby declared
to be forever dedicated to public use and shall not thereafter, on any
pretext whatsoever, be altered or taken for private use; provided,
however, that nothing herein contained shall effect the right of any
person or persons owning or claiming any interest in said land de-
rived by, from or under any persons other than the maker of said
plat, or by, from or under such maker prior to such sub-division; and
provided further, that the maker of any such plat or plats, his heirs
or assigns, shall have the right to apply by petition to the Circuit
Court for said County, for leave to abandon the sub-division of lands
so made by him, and reconvert the same into one tract or parcel; pro-
vided, that the petitioner or petitioners shall cause a copy of the said
petition to be served by the Sheriff of Prince George's County upon the
OWNER OR owners or OF all property adjoining or abutting any
streets, roads, avenues, lanes, alleys and public parks or squares, or
portion or portions thereof, sought to be abandoned in said petition, if
they be residents of said County; and if any said owner or owners be
non-resident of Prince George's County, an order of publication shall
be issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Prince George's County
directed to said owner or owners advising them of the nature of the
petition, subject to the rules of the Court; and, further said peti-
tioner or petitioners shall furnish a suitable sign or notice, as deter-
mined by the Circuit Court to be placed in a conspicuous location on
the said public area or areas sought to be abandoned, to be posted
on said area or areas by the Sheriff of Prince George's County advis-
ing of the pending petition. Said notice shall be served or erected on
said premises at least fifteen days prior to a determination thereon
by the Court; and said Court if, convinced upon such proof, and
after such notice by publication or otherwise or as it shall direct
that no damage can be in any wise sustained by persons other than
the petitioners, shall have power to pass an order authorizing and
empowering such petitioner to abandon such sub-division, either in
whole or in part and the proceedings had under such petition shall be
docketed in the equity dockets and recorded in the equity or judgment
records of said Court, the petitioners in all cases paying the just cost
and charges for like work, and when such orders are passed the clerk
of said court shall endorse on the plat affected hereby, the dates and
place of record of such orders.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1957.

Approved April 10, 1957.

CHAPTER 694

(House Bill 801)

AN ACT to add new Sections 874 to 900, inclusive, to Article 22 of
the Code of Public Local Laws of Maryland, (1930 Edition), title

Explanation: Italics indicate new matter added to existing law.

[Brackets] indicate matter stricken from existing law.
CAPITALS indicate amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken out of bill.