Chap. 465.—An ACT to authorize co-operation on the part of the proper
authorities of the State of Virginia in respect to extension into the State
of Virginia of the park, parkway, playground, water, drainage and sewer-
age systems of the District of Columbia, and to prevent pollution of the
waters of the Potomac river and to preserve forests and natural scenery in
connection with such projects. [fH B 333]

Approved March 24, 1920.

Whereas, by an act of the congress of the United States, approved
on June sixth, nineteen hundred and twenty-four, entitled an act fora
comprehensive development of the park and playground systems of
the national capital, a commission was established, known as the
National Capital park commission, which was thereby authorized to
acquire land by purchase or condemnation, either in the District of
Columbia or in the States of Maryland and Virginia, for suitable
development of the national capital park, parkway and playground
systems, and make such arrangements as to acquisition and payment
for the land as it will determine upon by agreement with the proper
officials of the States of Maryland and Virginia; and

Whereas, a bill has been introduced into the congress of the
United States for the purpose of amending the aforesaid act of June
sixth, nineteen hundred and twenty-four, and providing that in order
to develop a comprehensive, consistent and co-ordinated plan for the
national capital and its environs in the States of Maryland and Vir-
ginia, to preserve the flow of water in Rock creek, to prevent pollution
of Rock creek and the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, to preserve
forests and natural scenery in and about Washington and to provide
for the comprehensive, systematic and continuous development of
park, parkway, playground systems of the national capital and its
environs, a commission known as the national capital park and
planning commission is created and said commission is charged with
the duty of carrying out said purposes and certain other purposes as
more fully specified therein, including drainage, sewerage and water
supply; and

Whereas, it is desired to make provisions whereby the State of
Virginia may co-operate with the national government in any such
undertakings, now, therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the
United States government or any duly authorized representative
thereof, or any commission now or hereafter established by the con-
gress of the United States is hereby given the right of acquisition of
title or any interest or estate therein, by purchase or condemnation,
of lands in the State of Virginia, for any of the purposes aforesaid,
the proceedings therein, where condemnation with the consent of the
governor is resorted to, to conform to the provisions of law already
in force in this State in reference to federal condemnation proceedings,
tor the acquisition of a fee simple, or other estate or interest as may
he desired in such lands.

2. That concurrent jurisdiction over any such lands and interests
or estates therein acquired by condemnation proceedings or other-
wise, is hereby ceded to the government of the United States, in
accordance with the provisions of the sections of the Code of Virginia
already in farce, ceding to the United States government concurrent
jurisdiction over certain lands within the State of Virginia.

3. That the State highway commission, the council of the city of
Alexandria, Virginia, the board of supervisors of Arlington and Fair-
fax counties, are hereby jointly and severally authorized to contribute
in whole or in part to the financing of any such developments as above
set forth, where benefits result therefrom within the State (that is to
say, that to the extent that any such development relates to State
highways, the State highway commission may contribute; if a benefit
is to result to the said city, the council of the city may contribute; if a
benefit is to result to either of said counties, the board of supervisors
of the county so to benefit may contribute), and are hereby given the
power to contract with the United States government or its auth-
orized representatives or with any such commission, as above specified,
now or hereafter established, by the congress of the United States, in
reference to any such matters as are specified above, providing that
any such contract or agreement shall have the approval of the attorney
general and the governor of Virginia.

4. Should any part of this act be held unconstitutional, it shall
nevertheless continue in full force and effect as to the provisions
thereof which are constitutional.
1926. | ACTS OF ASSEMBLY. 737