Chap. 856.—An ACT to authorize the United States government to aequire title
to and jurisdiction over certain lands in the counties of Dinwiddie, Prince
George and Chesterfield, and the city of Petersburg.

Approved March 3, 198.

Whereas it is represented to the general assembly that a bill has been
offered in the congress of the United States for the establishment of a
national park, to mark and preserve the battle-fields around the city of
Petersburg, and the military lines of the Union and Confederate armies
around said city, on which fields were fought great battles in eighteen
hundred and sixty-four and eighteen hundred and sixty-five, together
with the natural and artificial features, as far as possible, as they were
at the time of said battles, by such memorial stones, tablets or monu-
ments as the government of the United States and others may see fit to
erect, to commemorate the valor displayed by the American soldiery on
those bloody fields; and

Whereas in the event of the said bill, or some other bill having the
same objects and purposes in view, becoming a law, the United States
government may desire to acquire, by purchase or otherwise, numerous
tracts or parcels of land in the counties of Dinwiddie, Prince (:corge
and Chesterfield, and in the corporation of Petersburg for the purposes
of said national park, and also to obtain the right to the occupation,
improvement and use of any existing public roads in said counties and
streets in said corporation which may, In the judgment of the United
States, or those charged with the establishment of said park, be needful
or convenient for the proper establishment of said park:

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the con-
sent of this state be, and is hereby, given to the United States govern-
ment to acquire title to so much lands in the counties of Dinw iddie,
Prince George and Chestertield, and in the corporation of Petersburg as
it may decm necessary for the purpose of establishing a national park,
and to the occupation, improvement and use of any existing public
roads or parts thereof in said three counties, and of streets in said cor-
poration, deemed necessary or convenient for the proper establishment
of said park: provided, however, that the said lands so acquired shall
not exceed one hundred acres in Chesterfield county, ten thousand acres
in the counties of Dinwiddie and Prince George, and twenty-five acres
in the corporation of Petersburg.

2. Be it further enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, ‘That
the jurisdiction of this state is hereby ceded to the United States of
America over all such tracts of land as the United States may acquire

as set forth in the preceding section whenever title thereto shall have
been acquired by the United States.
3. Be it further enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That t
jurisdiction of this state is hereby ceded to the United States over su
public roads and parts of the same in the aforesaid counties and corp
ration as may, in the judgment of the United States, or those charg
with the establishment of said park, be needful or convenient for t
proper establishment of said park, so soon as said roads are ovoupie
improved and used in connection with said park.

4, Be it further enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That t
foregoing cession of jurisdiction is upon the express condition that t
state of Virginia shall so far retain a concurrent jurisdiction with t
United States over said lands and roads as that all civil and crimin
process issued under the authority of this state may be executed there
in like manner as if this act had not been passed; and upon the furth
express conditions that the state shall retain its civil and criminal jur
diction over persons and citizens in said added territory as over otl
persons and citizens in this state, and the property of said citizens a1
residents thereon, except lands and such other property as the gener
government may desire for its use; and that the property belonging
persons residing within said ceded territory shall be liable to state a
county taxes the same as if they resided elsewhere, and that citizens
this state in said ceded territory shall retain all rights of state suffra
and citizenship: provided, that nothing herein contained shall interfe
with the jurisdiction of the United States over any matters or subjec
get out in the act of congress establishing said park, when the same
passed, or with any laws, rules, or regulations that congress may he
after adopt for the preservation or protection of its property and rigl
in said ceded territory and the proper maintenance of good order there

5. Be it further enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That t
lands which may be acquired under this act, and all improvements a
erections thereon, for the purposes aforesaid, are hereby exempted fre
all taxes imposed by this state or by the counties of Dinwiddie, Prir
George and Chesterfield and the corporation of Petersburg so long ast
game shall be held and used by the United States, or under its authori!
for the uses and purposes hereinbefore mentioned, and no longer.

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