CHAP. 286.—An ACT to provide for and authorize the purchase of at least
one half of the property in the city of Richmond known as the Ford's
hotel block, for the purpose of erecting a modern fire-proof building
for the State library rooms, for the supreme court of appeéals of Vir-
ginia, and for other buildings for the departments and agencies of the
state.

Approved March 14, 1912.

Whereas, a joint committee of the senate and house of dele-
gates did on the twenty-eighth day of February, nineteen hun-
dred and twelve, make report to the senate and house of delegates
that it was advisable and necessary that at least one-half of that
block of land situate in the city of Richmond and known as the
Ford’s hotel block, bounded by Capitol street, Twelfth street and
Proad street, should be purchased at once from the city of Rich-
mond for the purposes mentioned in the said report; now, there-

ore,

1. Pe it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the
governor, lieutenant-governor and attorney-general shall proceed
at once to buy at least one-half of that block of land in the city of
Richmond known as the Ford’s hotel block, and, if possible, that
they shall buy that half of said block lving next to Capitol street:
but if this he impossible, then thev shall buv the half of said block
lving next to Twelfth street; that is, that if possible they shall
buy the southern half of the property, but if not possible to do
this, that they shall buy the eastern half of the said block.

2. That the sum of ninety thousand dollars, or so much thereof
as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any funds in
the treasury of this State not otherwise appropriated for the pur-
pose of making the purchase above mentioned.

3. The said property, when so purchased, shall be held for
the purpose of erecting a modern fire-proof State library building,
in which shall be provided also rooms tor the supreme court of
appeals and its library; and for the further purpose of erecting
such other buildings as may be required for the accommodation
of other departments and agencies of the State.

4. In case a purchase is made under this act, then the gov-
ernor is hereby authorized to make such repairs to the buildings
on the property bought as may be necessarv to fit them for use by
any of the departments or agencies of the State until new build-
ings can be erected.

5. No action shall be taken in regard to this purchase save at
the end of the fiscal year of nineteen hundred and twelve or nine-
teen hundred and thirteen, nor unless a real surplus exists in the
treasury sufficient to make purchase of said property in one of the
fiscal years.