58 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 27

SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That the authorities
are authorized and empowered to take over by purchase or
condemnation any privately owned water supply system. Such
condemnation proceedings shall be in accordance with the pro-
visions of Section 9. When any such private system is taken
possession of, said authorities may extend or alter and main-
tain or operate said system in conjunction with their general
system, and thereafter all properties along the lines of said
privately owned systems, so taken over, shall stand in the same
relation, bear the same benefit assessment, and be subject to the
same regulations and penalties as though the system so ac-
quired had been constructed and put into operation by said
authorities; provided, however, that said authorities may take
into account and compensate for any portion of the cost of
constructing the privately owned system that they may deter-
mine to have been paid by properties abutting upon any por-
tion of said system. Whenever there is in existence a privately
owned water supply system, which, in the judgment of said-
authorities, is unfit as a whole or in part for incorporation into
the general system established by said authorities, said author-
ities may disregard the existence of said system or unfit part
thereof, and extend their system to serve the area tributary to
the existing private system or unfit part thereof, and all the
provisions of this Act relating to systems constructed by said
authorities shall apply to said extensions.

SEC. 11. And be it further enacted, That said authorities
may enter upon any highway for the purpose of installing, ex-
tending, altering, maintaining and operating a water supply
system, and may construct or repair in any such highway
a water main or any appurtenance thereof upon the receipt
of a permit from the proper authorities; provided that when-
ever any highway is disturbed, said highway shall be repaired
and left by said authorities in the same or a not inferior con-
dition to that existing before entry, and that all costs incident
thereto shall be borne by said authorities.

SEC. 12. And be it further enacted, That all individuals,
firms and corporations having buildings, conduits, pipes, tracks
or other physical obstructions in, over or under the public road,
streets, or alleys of the county or municipality which shall
block or impede the progress of the municipal water supply
system while in process of construction, establishment, altera-
tion or repair, shall upon reasonable notice from the authorities