See as to special legislation, as applied to corporate powers of municipal corpora 'dons, 35 Cent. L. J. 266; as to the power of the legislature over the streets of munic ipalities, 26 Am. L. Rev. 520; as to munic ipal power of taxation, 35 Cent. L. J. 227.
"A municipal corporation possesses and can exercise the following powers, and no others : first, those granted in express words; second, those necessarily or fairly implied in or incident to the powers express ly granted; third, those essential to the de- • dared objects and purposes of the corpora tion, not simply convenient but indispensa ble." Smith v. Newbern, 70 N. C. 14, 16 Am. Rep. 766 ; Cook County v. McCrea, 93 Ill. 236 ; 1 Dill. Mun. Corp. § 89; Barnett v. Denison, 145 U. S. 135, 12 Sup. Ct. 819, 36 L. Ed. 652; Turner v. Forsyth, 78 Ga. 683, 3 S. E. 649 ; Crawfordsville v. Braden, 130 Ind. 149, 28 N. E. 849, 14 L. R. A. 268, 30 Am. St. Rep. 214. No powers can be implied except such as are essential to the purposes of the corporations as created; they can bind the people and property only to the ex tent of their powers; Ottawa v. Carey, 108 U. S. 110, 2 Sup. Ct. 361, 27 L. Ed. 669; Portland v. Schmidt, 13 Or. 17, 6 Pac. 221. Where discretionary powers are granted, the corporation thereby acquires a control and discretion as absolute as that originally possessed by the legislature; Covington v. East St. Louis, 78 I11..550; Howe v. Plain field, 37 N. J. L. 146 ; a grant of express power carries with it the right to determi the mode of its execution; Poillon v. Br• • lyn, 101 N. Y. 132; 4 N. E. 191; F -1, 1.
Minn Co., 58 Wis. 403, 17 N. W. 1; and its discretion in that respect should not be in terfered with by courts except where it is clearly abused; Torrent v. Muskegon, 47 Mich. 115, 10 N. W. 132, 41 Am. Rep. 715. Acts in excess of the express or implied pow ers are void ; Mather v. Ottawa, 114 111. 659, 3 N. E. 216. See as to municipal powers, ex press and implied, Lucia v. Montpelier, 60 Vt. 537, 15 Atl. 321, 1 L. R. A. 169; Schneid er v. Detroit, 72 Mich. 240, 40 N. W. 329, 2 L. R. A. 54.
A strict, rather than a liberal, construc tion of the powers of a municipal corpora tion is adopted; Logan v. Pyne, 43 Ia. 524,
22 Am. Rep. 261; and only such can be im plied as are essential to the corporate ob dects and purposes ; Ottawa v. Carey, 108 U. S. 110, 2 Sup. Ct. 361, 27 L. Ed. 669; Port land v. Schmidt, 13 Or. 17, 6 Pac. 221. Grants to municipal corporations, like grants to private corporations, are subject to the law of strict construction ; Detroit Citizens' St. R. Co. v. R. Co., 171 U. S. 48, 18 Sup. Ct. 732, 43 L. Ed. 67. The grant of an exclu sive privilege must be expressly made, or, if inferred from other powers, must be indis pensable, and not merely convenient ; Wa ter, L. & G. Co. v. Hutchinson, 207 U. S. 385, 28 Sup. Ct. 135, 52 L. Ed. 257.
But, it is said to be also true that a mu nicipal corporation may do many acts not expressly authorized by its charter, and it has been said that "it is a mistake to as sume that municipal corporations should not keep abreast with the progress and im provements of the age;" Linn v. Borough, 160 Pa. 511, 28 Atl. 842, 25 L. R. A. 217. This fairly expresses the elasticity which characterizes the decisions with respect to their implied powers. The functions of such corporations are so well understood that there is usually little difficulty in deciding •;.. whether a particular power is essential to its purpose or necessarily implied.
These powers have been recognized : To grade and pave streets; Williamsport v. Cora., 84 Pa. 487, 24 Am. Rep. 208; to estab lish and maintain a sewerage system; Cin cinnati v. Penny, 21 Ohio St. 499, 8 Am. Rep. 73; provide for a water supply and an elec tric light plant; Ellinwood v. Reedsburg, 91 Wis. 131, 64 N. W. 885 ; erect public build ings ; French v. Quincy, 3 Allen (Mass.) 9; prevent damage by fire; Robinson v. St. Louis, 28 Mo. 488 ; and to that end appro priate money to fire companies ; Van Sicklen v. Burlington, 27 Vt. 70; to make pleasure drives around public squares ; Com. v. Beaver •rough, 171 Pa. 542, 33 Atl. 112; regulate and electric wires ; Allentown v. Tel. 148 Pa ' 117 23 Atl. 1070, 33 Am. St.