Chap. 94.—An ACT to empower the State highway commission to use without
the institution of condemnation proceedings lands for camp sites, Sores
yards or detours. {S B 53]

Approved February 25, 1922.

I. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the State highway commission is empowered to use without the in-
stitution of condemnation proceedings such lands as may be required
in connection with the construction, reconstruction or repair of the
State highway system, for camp sites, storage yards or detours;
providing that no orchard, yard, graveyard or garden shall be used
for such detour, camp sites or storage yards excepting with the wrtt-
ten consent of the owner. Provided, however, that not in excess of
two acres of land may be thus taken for any one camp site or any one
storage yard and not more than a thirty-foot strip of land may be
taken for use as a detour; provided, further, that no land thus taken
shall be held continuously for more than one year and no camp may
be placed within five hundred yards of the residence of the owner or
tenant occupying said land without the consent of said owner or
tenant.

2. If the owner or tenant of any such land shall deem himself in-
jured thereby and the commission or its agents can agree with such
owner or tenant as to the amount of damages caused by said taking,
they shall pay said damage to the owner or tenant, as the case may
be, but if an agreement cannot be reached, then a justice of the peace
in the county wherein the land is situated shall, upon application to
him by said owner or tenant, issue a warrant to three freeholders of
said county requiring’ them to review the said land and ascertain and
report what 1s a just compensation to such owner or tenant for the
damage done to him by such taking, the said freeholders, after being
sworn, shall ascertain such compensation and report the same to the
State highway commission or its duly authorized agent. The com-
mission may thereupon allow the full amount so agreed upon or re-
ported by said freeholders, or so much thereof as to the commission
may seem reasonable, subject to the right of such owner or tenant
to appeal to the circuit court of the county wherein the land lies, as in
other cases.

3. An emergency existing, this act shall be in force from its
passage and becoming a law.