Chap. 699.—An ACT giving the consent of tlis state to the purchase by th
United States of certain real estate in the county of Norfolk and exempting th
same from taxation.

Approved March 3, 1898,

Whereas it has heen represented to the general assembly, that it may
be desirable for the United States to acquire by purchase a piece or par
cel of Jand in Norfolk county, on the Etizabeth river, immediately oppo
site to the Gosport navy-yard, known as Cedar Grove, for the construc
tion of a wet dock, and for naval purposes:

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the con
sent of this commonwealth, “be, and is hereby, given to said purchase
and when the same shall have been made, jurisdiction is hereby cedec
to the government of the United States, so that congress and the author
ities of the federal government shall have all lawful power and contro
over and in the same manner, as is specified in the seventeenth claus
of the eighth section of the first article of the constitution of the Unite
States: provided, however, that the consent herein given shall not ex
tend to the purchase or acquisition of more than sixty acres of land fo
the purposes aforesaid: and provided further, that the state retain
jurisdiction over the same in all matters relating to the violation of th
laws of this state, to the execution and service “of all process issued b
or from the courts, magistrates or other state officers in pursuance ¢
law, and in all other matters not incompatible with the consent herei
given and the rightful authority of the United States thereby acquired a
to be acquired under this act.

2. If the government of the United States shall fail to make the put
chase specified in the preceding section, and for the purpose therei
designated, within four years from the passage of this act, then this ac
shall cease to be of any force or effect, and until said purchase i is mad
by the government of the United States full, complete and undivide
jurisdiction over the said tract of land is retained by the state of Vin
ginia, and no right to assess and collect taxes on said land is released b
the commonwealth until said purchase is made.
3. The said real estate, and the buildings or structures that may be
erected thereon, are hereby exempted from any tax to be imposed by
this state, or the constituted authorities of Norfolk county, so long as
the same shall be held and used by the general government for the pur-
poses hereinbefore mentioned and no longer.

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