Chap. 4.—An ACT to give the consent of the Commonwealth of Virginia to the
acquisition of real estate in the city of Fredericksburg for a site for the Mercer
monument, and authorizing the city to grant and condemn land therefor.

Approved July 28, 1902.

Whereas, the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars has been appropriated
by congress for the erection at Fredericksburg, Virginia, of a monument
to the memory of General Hugh Mercer: provided, that the city of Fred-
ericksburg, or the citizens thereof, shall cede and convey to the United
States such suitable site as may, in the judgment of the secretary of war,
be required for said monument: therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the con-
sent of the State be, and is hereby, given to the acquisition by the United
States of so much land in the city of Fredericksburg as may be requisite
and convenient for a site for said monument.

2. That this State cedes to the United States exclusive jurisdiction
over the said land so acquired and all erections which may be placed
thereon during the time the United States shall be the owner thereof for
all purposes except the administration of the criminal laws of said State
and the service of civil process thereon.

3. That the parcel of land so acquired, together with all improvements
and ercctions thereon, for the purpose before mentioned shall be held
exempt from all State and municipal taxation so long as the United
States shall be and remain the owner thereof.

4. That the mayor and commonalty of the city of Fredericksburg arc
hereby authorized and empowered to grant and convey to the United
States free of charge so much land constituting a part of any public
square or street of said city as may, in the judgment of said mayor and
commonalty and of the secretary of war, be suitable and required for a
site for said monument.
5. That the said mayor and commonalty of the city of Fredericksburg
are hereby empowered and authorized to acquire, by purchase or con-
demnation, so much land within the said city as may be, in their judg-
ment, requisite and convenient for a site for said monument and rights
of way thereto. And if the said mayor and commonalty cannot agree
with those entitled to the land to be acquired for said site and any rights
of way thereto upon the terms of purchase, they shall apply to the cor-
poration court of said city, which shall appoint five disinterested free-
holders, any three of whom may act, for the purpose of ascertaining a
just. compensation for said land and any rights of way as aforesaid; the
appointment of said commissioners, the notice of the application for their
appointment, and the subsequent proceedings shall conform to the pro-
visions of the Code of Virginia in relation to condemnation as nearly as
may be. -

6. That when such land and rights of way have been acquired, the
said mayor and commonalty of said city of Fredericksburg are authorized
to convey, or cause the same to be conveyed, to the United States free of
charge.

7. By reason of the appropriations being already made for the erection
of said monument, an emergency exists for this act to take effect at once,
therefore this act shall be in force from its passage.