Chap. 10.—An ACT anthorizing the sale and lease of certain Public Pro-
perty in the city of Richmond.

Passed March 14, 1867.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the governor, the auditor of public accounts and the second
anditor, any two of whom may act, are hereby appointed
commissioners to take charge of the following lots or parcels
of land within the limits of the city of Richmond, the pro-
perty of the state of Virginia, to wit: One lot or parcel of
land known as the armory grounds, believed to contain
about six acres, lying between the James river and Kanawha
canal and James river, having as many as three distinct
aqneducts to convey the water trom the canal to water-wheels
thereon. The said commissioners are hereby authorized to
have these grounds divided into as many lots as may seem to
them most expedient and best for the interest of the state;
aud the said commissioners are hereby authorized and em-
powered also to have, if necessary, in their judgment, the lot
or parcel of ground in the city of Richmond known as the
wiblie warehouse, lying near the Richmond and Petersburg
railroad depot, and the lot or parcel of Jand in the city of

tichmond, lying between Main and Cary and Madison and
Jefferson streets, and containing the penitentiary spring, laid
off in suitable lots, corresponding with the present plan of
the city of Richmond; and it shall be the duty of said com-
missioners, after giving at least four weeks notice of the same,
in two or more new spapers published in the city of Rich-
mond, to offer the said lots of ground for lease, at public
auction, on the premises or otherwise as may be deemed best,
for the following terms: The armory grounds, except that por-
tion now in the oce ‘upancy of R. Archer, R.S. Archer and A.D.
Townes, under lease authorized by law, for the term of twenty
years, with the privilege of renewing the same at the expira-
tion of that term, unless the government of the state shall
determine to re-establish the armory: provided, however,
that at the expiration of the first ten years of said lease, said
property shall be revalued by three disinterested persons, one
to be selected by the commissioners, one by the lessees, and
they to choose a third; and the rent for the residue of the
term shall be increased or diminished,.according to the 1n-
creased or diminished value of the property at the time, to
bedetermined by said arbitrators; the warehouse property for
the term of ten years, and the penitentiary spring property,
except so much thereof as may be necessary tor the use of
the penitentiary, for the term of ten years.

2. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of said
commissioners to require any person or persons leasing the
armory grounds, for manufacturing purposes, to erect thereon
good, substantial buildings of brick or stone: provided, that
at the expiration of said lease. if the parties decline leasing
for a further term, or if the state authorities should require
said property to be delivered up for armory purposes, then
it shall be the duty of the commissioners to have the im-
provements placed upon said property by the lessees, ap-
praised by three disinterested persons, to “be chosen as pro-
vided in the last preceding section, and to receive the same
for the state, at said appraised valuation.

3. The said commissioners are hereby authorized to lease
the warehonse property in whole, with a view to having it
rebuilt, if they shall deem it best for the interest of the state.

4. Be it further enae ‘ted, That it shall be the duty of said
commissioners to investigate the title to the property men-
tioned in this act, and to take proper steps tor perfecting the
same, whenever it may be found defective.

» And be it further enacted, That the said commissioners
are hereby authorized and required to expose to sale all
builk ling material, of ev ery description, which may be found
on the said armory grounds, not needed for the use of the
state, and also all material found on the warehouse lot.

6. And be it farther enacted, That the said commissioners
shall have power, and they are hereby’ r required, after having
given dne notice of the same, to expose to sale the material
of which the state courthouse was but, in the capitol square,
near the southeast corner, or so much thereof as may not be
needed for the use of the commonwealth, upon such terms
as may seem to them best for the interest of the state.
7. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of
he said commissioners to collect and pay over all proceeds.
rising from sales and leases made under this act immediately
ato the treasury of the state, to the credit of the common-
-ealth, and to file all contracts for leases and bonds taken for
he same with the auditor of public accounts, and to require
exssecs of the armory grounds to pay their respective just
roportion of water rents into the treasury, as it may fall
lue,. or forfeit their contracts.

“. This act shall be in force from its passage.