1384 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [Ch. 790]

and convey the same for the benefit of the town; to erect and
maintain such buildings for municipal purposes as they may
deem necessary and proper; to construct and maintain public
works for supplying the town with artificial light, water or
other purposes which they may deem necessary, proper and
beneficial for said town, or to contract with any person or per-
sons or corporation for supplying said town, and the inhabitants
thereof, with water, gas or electricity, and to cause the public
streets and public buildings to be lighted, supplied with water
or other conveniences, as they may deem necessary and proper;
to establish and' regulate a fire department, and provide such
means, engines, apparatus, measures or material for the pre-
vention or extinguishment of fires as they may deem necessary;
to prevent, under such restrictions as they may deem proper,
the laying of railroad tracks, and the running of cars drawn
by horses, steam, electricity or other power thereon, the laying
of gas or water pipes in the public streets, and to construct and
maintain and to permit the construction and maintenance of
the telegraph, telephone and electric lines therein; and they
shall impose such restrictions and conditions upon the location
and maintenance of gas, electric light and water works, pipes,
wires, poles and railroad tracks as shall secure the least possi-
ble public or private inconvenience; and they shall provide for
the enforcement of such restrictions and conditions; to con-
tract for lighting and supplying with water the streets and
public buildings and for sprinkling the streets, but no such
contract shall be for a longer period than two years, and the
same shall be let only after thirty days' notice, calling for bids
for such purpose or purposes has been given at least three times
during that period in some newspaper of general circulation
in the town or posted for three weeks in five conspicuous places
in the town; and the council may, in their discretion, reject)
any or all bids, and such contract or contracts shall be awarded
by ordinance; to license, for the purpose of regulation and
revenue, all and every kind of business not now prohibited by
law transacted or carried on in the town; to fix the rate of
license upon the same, and provide for the collection thereof
by suit or otherwise; to establish markets and regulate the
hours and minutes thereof, and the mode of dealing in relation
thereto; to control and protect the public grounds and prop-
erty of the town and protect public buildings, churches and
private buildings, trees, fences and song birds from defacement
or injury; to provide, by ordinance, for condemning, laying
out, opening, extending and making new streets or alleys, and
for altering, straightening, widening, grading, improving or