Chap. 132.—An ACT giving the consent of this state to the purchase
by the government of the United States of land in Alexandria county
for the abutment of aud the necessary approaches to the bridge pro-
posed to be constructed across the Potomac river at or near the Three
Sisters’ island, and the building of such abutment and approaches
upon such land, and ceding jurisdiction over the same.

Approved February 27, 1879.

Whereas it appears that a bill to authorize the secretary of
war to construct a bridge across the Potomac river, at or near
the Three Sisters’ islands, and containing the following proviso,
namely: “That the execution of this act shall not be carried
out until the legislature of Virginia shall give its assent to the
building of the abutments of the bridge upon the territory of
that state,’’ has passed the house of representatives, and is now
pending in the senate of the United Stateg:

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That the consent
of this state be and is hereby given to the purchase or acquisi-
tion, by gift or concession of the owners by the government of
the United States, or under the authority of the same, of land
in the county of Alexandria necessary for the abutment and
approaches of the proposed bridge across the Potomac river at
or near the Three Sisters’ islands, not exceeding ten acres, and
to the building of such abutment and approaches upon the land
that may be so acquired, and to the exercise of such jurisdiction
by the United States over the same as'may be necessary. But
this consent is given subject to the following terms and condi-
tions, to-wit: First. That this state retains concurrent jurisdic-
tion with the United States over suck land, so that the courts,
magistrates and officers of this state may take such cognizance,
execute such process, and discharge such other legal functions
within the same, as may nof be incompatible with the consent
hereby given. Second. That if the purposes of this grant
should cease, or there should be for five years consecutively, a
failure on the part of the United States to use said land for
said purposes, then the jurisdiction hereby ceded shall cease
and determine, and the same shall revert to the commonwealth
of Virginia.
2. The land acquired, and the abutments and approaches
built for the purposes aforesaid, shall be exempt from taxation
by this state or by the constituted anthorities of the county of
Alexandria; but this exemption shall continue only so long as
the United States shall continue to be the owners of the land
and the erections thereon.

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