Chap. 896.—An ACT to remove rafts and other obstructions in the bed of Hyco
river, in the county of Halilax,.

Approved March 3, 1898.

Whereas persons owning lands on Hyco river, in the county of Halifax,
have allowed rafts and trees to blockade the bed of the said river, there hy
overflowing the bottoms and forming bogs and ponds, and in the dry
hot season from the decomposition of vegetable matter making a source
of malaria from which most malignant and pernicious diseases are
generated which cau-es much di-tress, sickness, and death to the citizens
in the vicinity of said river: therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That all land-
owners who own Jand on Iveco river, in the county of Halifax, Virginia,
commencing at the Virginia and North Carolina line where the said
river enters Vi irginia, running through a portion of Halifax county to
its mouth where it empties into Dan river, shall be required to cut out
all rafts and trees to the centre of the river and get them out, during the
months of July and August of each ve

2. The judge of the said county, shall, upon the petition of ten Jand-
owners, owning land on yee river, direct the sheriff or other officer in

said county, to proceed to get a list. of all landowners owning Jand on
said river, and it shall be the duty of the said officers to summon all
landowners as herein designated to carry out the provisions hercin
stated.

3. That any landowner who fails to comply with the provisions of
this act shall pay whatever cost and expenses incurred in haying the

rafts and trees removed and taken out of said river, and shall pay a fine
of twenty-five dollars for such failure or refusal to comply with the pro-
visions of this act as herein provided.

4, That the fines, costs and expenses shall bea lien upon the lands of
any and all landowners on the said stream who fail to comply with the
provisions of this act as herein provided.

That the sheriff or other officer directed by the judge of the county
of Ialifax, Virginia, shall have the power to proceed to collect the said
fines, costs, and expenses as herein stated from any landowner or land-
owners who shall fail or refuse to comply with the provisions contained
in this act.

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