Chap. 337.—An ACT to give the consent of the Commonwealth of Virginia
to the reclaiming by the United States cf America of certain submere=d
land lying in the Elizabeth river, adjacent to Craney island, in Norfolk
county, Virginia. (S. B. 493.)

Approved March 27, 1914.

Whereas, the United States of America, for a number of years
past, has expended large sums of money in dredging and improv-
ing the Elizabeth river and tributaries; and,

Whereas, it has been represented to the general assembly of
Virginia that there will probably be a continuation of the work
of improvement for some time to come; and.

Whereas, in such work and improvement it is necessary to take
the material dredged from the bottom of the river to a dumping
ground where the same may be deposited without danger to the
navigable channels; and,

Whereas, by reason of the large amount of material dredged
and dumped, the area for said dumping has become much re-
stricted, and it will soon be necessary in the ordinary course of such
improvements, to convey such dredged material to a more distant
point. thereby increasing the expense; and,

Whereas, ‘the United States of America now has title to eentuln
property known as “Craney Island,” lying on the western side of
the Elizabeth river, in Norfolk county, Virginia; and,

Whereas, the flats in front of said property stand out in front
of the said land for a distance of about half a mile. and ebb bare.
or nearly so, at extreme low water, thereby making that portion of
the said river so covered by said flats, non-navigable; and,

Whereas, it is represented to the general assembly of Virginia,
that the United States of America is desirous of placing a bulk-
head around a portion of the said flats, embracing therein an area
of about five hundred acres; and,

Whereas, it appears to the general assembly of Virginia to be
advantageous to the commerce of the ports of Norfolk and Ports-
mouth that the said submerged land should be so reclaimed; now,
therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the permission of the State be, and hereby is, given to the United
States of America, to place a bulkhead around Craney Island,.Nor-
folk county, Virginia, beginning at the western end of said island,
and continuing northerly into the waters of the Elizabeth river,
for a distance not exceeding one thousand yards; thence east-
wardly, to and around Craney Island lighthouse; thence south-
wardly to a point not exceeding six hundred yards from the south-
east corner of the present high land of Craney Island; thence
westerly and northwesterly, to the western end of said island, and
thereafter to deposit within the said bulkhead material dredged
from the channels of the harbors of Norfolk and Portsmouth, and
from the Elizabeth river, the said land so made thereby, thereafter
to be and remain the property of the United States of America, to
be held and used by it for its purposes and no other, and this State
hereby cedes to the United States of America exclusive jurisdiction
over the said land so made, and all erections or improvements
which may be made thereon for the purposes of the United States,
and hereby exempts the same from all State, county, and municipal
taxation, so long as the United States shall be and remain the
owner thereof. Provided, however, that nothing herein contained
shall authorize the closing or obstruction of the existing channel
now passing between Craney Island and the mainland to the west-
ward and southwestward thereof.

2. Nothing herein contained shall be held or construed to grant
to the United States any property, or waterfront, or flats in front
of the said Craney Island, or near it, except what belongs to the
State of Virginia, and the said grant herein made shall be subject
to all prior grants by the State of Virginia.