Chap. 211.—An ACT to authorize the city of Petersburg to acquire land neeessarr
to construct a channel for diverting the freshet water from the Appomattax
river at Petersburg, Virginia, so as to improve the harbor and channel of saié
river.

Approved May 9, 1903,

Whereas, the city of Petersburg, in order to keep the Appomattox river
In a navigable condition, and its harbor fit for the entry of vessels em-
ploved in commerce with its citizens, is, and has for a lone time Inean,
subjected to a large and burdensome annual charge in dev pening an

a

cleaning out the harbor and channel of said river rat and belew said tity,
and in removing therefrom large quantities of sand and other matter de-
posited therein by every freshet in said river; and,

Whereas, it is believed that the freshet water of said river can be suc-
cessfully diverted from its present channel through a depression known as
the old channel, beginning at a point on the north side of said river oppo-
site said city and extending to the mouth of Old Town creek, where it
re-enters the said river, and in that case the present channel between the
points aforesaid, and the harbor at said city, can be made of such depth
and width as may be desirable and necessary, to the great advantage of
said city and its citizens, without the danger of being refilled by freshets
as heretofore has been the case; and,

Whereas, the United States government has recently made an appro-
priation sufficient to accomplish this result, and is now ready to begin the
work, provided the said city will acquire the land and rights wanted for
the purpose, but the said city has now no power to do so; therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the city of
Petersburg be, and it is hereby, authorized and empowered. to acquire by
purchase or condemnation such land as may be wanted for constructing
a channel to divert the freshet water from the Appomattox river at a
point to be selected by it on the north side of said river opposite said
city, along or near the depression commonly called the old channel, to
the mouth of Old Town creek, where said depression again enters the
river, including land belonging to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Com-
pany, the Norfolk and Western railway and any other corporation, as well
as that of natural persons; and said city shall have power to make such
contracts with said railroad companies, or other corporations, as it may
deem proper or necessary, with respect to the building, maintenance or
use of a railroad bridge across the channel so to be constructed, and of a
bridge or dam across the Appomattox river, or either of them.

2. The said city shall have power, for the purpose of diverting the
freshet water from said river into the channel so to be constructed, to
erect a dam of such character and height as it may deem proper across
the said river, at such a point as it may select between Pocahontas bridge,
at the head of navigation, and the bridge of the Virginia Passenger and
Power Company.

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