They may, on application of the owners of a majority of feet in front of any private wharf, dock, street, lane or alley, cause the same to be paved, cleaned out, mended or otherwise repaved or kept in good condition or repair, and may impose upon and collect from all the proprietors of the property so to be cleaned out or repaired, a tax sufficient in amount to defray the expenses thereof, which shall be assessed upon the proprietors in proportion to the number of feet held by them, respectively, in front or length, and shall be collected by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore as taxes levied for paving public streets. P.L.L., 1860, §851 1888. §815 1915, §833 1927, §833 1930, §833 1938, §1064 1949, §685 1969, §21-22 1898, ch. 123, §833