J O H N H E N R Y, Efquire, Governor.

1797.

C H A P. LXXIII.
An ACT for building a new gaol in Baltimore county.

WHEREAS by the petition of fundry inhabitants of Baltimore county
it is reprefented to this general affembly, that the public gaol of the
faid county is in a ruinous ftate, and in every refpect unfit for ufe,
and that a new gaol ought to be erected in faid county; therefore.

Paffed Janua-
ry 20,

Preamble.

II. Be it enacted, by the General Affembly of Maryland, That Samuel Ow-
ings, James Carroll, John Merryman, James Carey and Nicholas Rogers, fhall
be commiffioners for the purpofe of erecting a new gaol in, the faid county of
Baltimore, upon the public ground in the city of Baltimore appropriated by law
for the gaol and court-houfe of faid county; and the faid commiffioners, or a
majority of them, are hereby empowered to contract for materials, and to agree
with workmen, to build and finifh the faid gaol, which, when completed, fhall
by the faid commiffioners be put into the cuftody and poffeffion of the fheriff of
Baltimore county for the time being, and fo fhall remain and continue in the
cuftody and poffeffion of fuch fheriff, and his fucceffors, as the public gaol of
the faid county of Baltimore.

Commiffion-
ers appointed,
&c.

III. And be it enacted, That the levy court of Baltimore county be and they
are hereby empowered and directed, to impofe annually on the avertable property
of the faid county the fum of four thoufand dollars current money, to be affeffed,
together with an allowance to the collector of the fame commiffion for collection
that he receives for collecting the other county levy, which fum, fo affeffed,
fhall be collected by the collector of Baltimore county as other county taxes are
collected, and when fo collected fhall, by the faid collector, be paid to the com-
miffioners aforefaid, to be applied by them, or a majority of them, towards
erecting the faid gaol; which faid fum of four thoufand dollars current money
fhall be annually impofed by the faid levy court on the affeffable property of the
faid county, to be affeffed, collected, paid and applied as aforefaid, until the re-
quifite money be collected for the completing of the faid gaol.

Money to be
affeffed, &c.

IV. And be it enacted, That the faid commiffioners, or a majority of them,
fhall be and they are hereby authorifed to fell any of the materials of the old
gaol of faid county, and the earth and fand of the faid public ground, and to
apply the money thence arifing to defraying the expences of the new gaol.

Materials
may be fold,
&c.

V. And be it enacted, That in cafe any of the faid commiffioners fhall refufe
to act, fhall refign, die, or remove out of the county, or be incapable to act,
the remaining commiffioners, or the major part of them, fhall fill up fuch va-
cancy.

How vacan-
cies are to be
filled.

VI. And be it enacted, That the faid commiffioners, or a majority of them,
fhall be and they are hereby empowered to borrow, from time to time, fuch fum
or fums of money as they may conceive to be neceffary, at an intereft not exceed-
ing fix per centum per annum, which faid loan or loans fhall be appropriated and
applied by them to the erecting of the faid gaol; and to receive the repayment of
the faid fum or fums of money, with the intereft thereon, the faid commiffioners
fhall be and they are hereby authorifed to affign and transfer to the lender or
lenders thereof any part or parts of the before-mentioned taxes, to be annually
collected as aforefaid, which lender or lenders fhall, in fuch cafe, have all the
rights and privileges in enforcing the payment to them of the faid taxes that the
commiffioners fhould have had if fuch transfer had not been made.

Commiffion-
ers to borrow

money, &c.

VII. And be it enacted, That the commiffioners aforefaid fhall annually ren-
der to the levy court of Baltimore county a particular account of the receipts and
expenditures of all monies intruded to them, and alfo the progrefs and ftate of
the building.

Render an
account, &c.

VIII. And be it enacted, That the commiffioners aforefaid, before they pro-
ceed to the execution of the truft herein committed to them, fhall give bond to

And give

bond, &c.