The board of aldermen shall have power, by ordinance, to provide for and require the building and repairing of sidewalks and sidewalk curbing along any streets, avenues or highways of such city, the cost thereof to be levied as a special assessment on all lots or pieces of ground abutting on such improvements in proportion to the front foot thereof, and to impose a fine and penalty for the violation of such ordinance. Corner lots shall be liable for the extension of curbs and sidewalks to the curb lines each way.