Chap. 388.—An ACT to protect the public health of the city of Fredericksburg.

Approved February 18, 1898.

Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the city
council of Fredericksburg shall have power to make such ordinances,
by-laws and regulations as they may deem proper to promote and pro-
tect the health of the citv; and to that end, if any ground in the said
city or within one mile of its corporate limits, shall be subject to be
covered by stagnant water, or if the owner or owners, occupier or
occupiers thereof shall permit any offensive or unwholesome or stagnant
water or substances to remain or accumulate therein or thereon, the
council may cause such ground to be filled up, raised or drained, or
may cause such substance to be covered or to be removed therefrom, and
may collect the expense of so doing from the said owner or owners,
occupier or occupiers, or any of them by distress and sale in the same
manner in which taxes levied upon real estate for the benefit of said city
are authorized to be collected: provided that reasonable notice shall be
first given to the said owners or their agents or the occupiers of said
ground. In case of non-resident owners who have no agents in the
said city or on the said land, or in case the owners are unknown, such
notice may be given by publication for not less than four weeks in any
newspaper printed in said city.

And the aforesaid expense incurred under this act may also be re-
covered by suit or by motion, in the manner provided in section three
thousand two hundred and eleven of the code, against the owners and
occupiers of said ground or any one or more of them.

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