J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor 155

ing appeals in civil cases and such appeals shall have precedence
over all cases except criminal cases. ]

372.

The Department of Forests and Parks shall have the right and
power to condemn lands, earth, gravel, stone, timber or materials,
or any improvements in the name of the State, under Article 33A,
title "Eminent Domain", of the Code of Public General Laws of
Maryland [as passed in Chapter 117 of the Acts of 1912] when
such action is necessary for carrying out the purpose of any legis-
lative act, or for advancing the aims of forestry, parks or recrea-
tion, and the work of the Department of Forests and Parks, and
they may pay all costs and expenses thus incurred out of any
surplus moneys standing to the credit of the Forest Reserve or
Park Reserve funds, not otherwise appropriated; nothing herein
contained shall apply to the City of Baltimore; and in connection
with the project for which the lands mentioned in Section 370 of
this sub-title are to be acquired, such power of condemnation shall
not be exercised with respect to any lands located more than one-
half mile from the medial line of the said Patapsco River, or either
of its branches.

430.

In the event of its being deemed necessary for the said Board to
prevent the spread of contagious or infectious disease, to cause any
animal or animals so diseased, or exposed to such disease to be
slaughtered, the value of such animal or animals shall be appraised
under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the
State Board of Agriculture, by two sworn appraisers, to be sworn
before any officer authorized to administer oaths and affirmations,
one of which appraisers to be appointed by the owner or custodian
of such animals, the other by the said Board of Agriculture or its
duly authorized representative, or in case the said owner or cus-
todian of such animals shall neglect or refuse to name such ap-
praiser, then by two appraisers to be appointed by said Board of
Agriculture or its duly authorized representative, who in case of
disagreement shall call in a third; but in no event shall the ap-
praisement, together with the estimated value of the carcass, hide
and offal exceed ninety per centum of the fair market value of the
animal or animals, or a total of five hundred dollars for any one
animal; and which said appraisement when approved by said
Board of Agriculture shall be filed with the Comptroller; and
the Comptroller shall forthwith issue his warrant to the Treas-
urer for the amount of said appraisement, in favor of the said
owner or owners; and if the owner or owners of such animals
or buildings or other property shall not be satisfied with the
amount of said appraisement, he may [, within sixty days] appeal
to the circuit court of the county, or to the Baltimore City Court,
if such animals or buildings are within the City of Baltimore
[by filing in said court a copy of the appraisement with a petition
for a writ of subpoena against the officer representing the said
State Board of Agriculture, ] and said appeals shall be heard
de novo [acted on by said court in the same manner as appeals
from justices of the peace].