Chap. 359.—An ACT to provide for the investigation and means for the develop-
ment of the water power, industrial and agricultural interests and resources
of the State, to authorize surveys and to provide for the appointment of a water
power and development commission, and to appropriate money to Oat B S90 Sol
the provisions of this act.

Approved March 20, 1924.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That for the
purpose of thorough investigation of the water power, industrial and
agricultural interests and resources of the State for the promotion and
as a basis for the systematic development of the same, there is hereby
authorized and directed to be made:

First.— Under the direction and supervision of the Virginia Geolog-
ical survey, along the lines hereinafter provided:

A comprehensive water power survey of the State, of such a character
and along such lines as a study of our water power resources and com-
mercial needs of hydro-electric or other power may suggest, or may seem
advisable for community or farm power purposes, and through such
survey determine the location and extent of the water powers of the
State suitable for development for industrial purposes or commercial
power plants, or other profitable uses. It is contemplated that such survey
shall include all the water power resources of the State, both developed
and undeveloped; the maximum and minimum power available de-
termined by seasonal flow of the various streams; the possibilities of
obtaining maximum power by water storage and conservation. Also to
investigate the advantages which may be derived from the distribution
of power through inter-connecting hydro-electric systems in this and
adjacent States, and any other matters deemed pertinent for the devel-
opment and utilization of the water power resources of the State.

In conducting this survey it is contemplated that said geological
survey shall co-operate with other State agencies, and employ the State-
supported engineering schools as far as practicable.

Second.—There is authorized to be made under the direction and
supervision of the Virginia agricultural experiment station, a thorough
and comprehensive agricultural survey of the State according to the
most approved methods in practice, or which may be devised for the
purpose of gathering facts and information in regard to existing agri-
cultural conditions in Virginia, and data upon which to base a study of
agricultural economics and a constructive programme for the develop-
ment of agriculture and agricultural resources, which survey shall in-
clude matters pertaining to soils and soil fertility and management;
soil erosion and drainage problems affecting soil fertility and produc-
tivity; the adaptation of various soil types, elevations and seasonal con-
ditions to crops produced or which may suitably be produced; farm lay-
out and selection and arrangement of fields for the use of labor-saving
machinery, and economy and convenience in cultivation and farm oper-
ations; methods of cultivation, production and handling of crops, and
general farm management; the various crops produced on farms, their
yield and gross value compared with the cost of production and courses
of low yields; farm labor, its distribution and efficiency; labor incomes
of the various classes of farm labor; the relation of various farm products
to public needs and local and general supply and demand; farm incomes
and sources; capital investment and return; distribution of capital in-
vestment; the character and extent of idle lands and their suitability
for cultivation or other agricultural purposes in the various localities
and what, if any, profitable use may be made of them through the intro-
duction of livestock or crops adapted to such soils, by individuals or on
community plan, with notations of elevation, topography, temperatures
and seasonal conditions as affecting fruit production, cotton, or other
crops; and any other information or studies which may seem advisable
in determining methods for the betterment of agricultural conditions
and the development of agricultural resources of the State.

It is contemplated that in making the foregoing surveys that the
Virginia geological survey and the Virginia agricultural experiment sta-
tion will, and they are hereby authorized to, work in conjunction with
and co-operate with similar agencies of the Federal government wherever
a suitable and satisfactory arrangement can be made for such co-opera-
tion.

For the furtherance of the chief object and purposes of this act, it 1s
hereby provided that there shall be created a water power and develop-
ment commission, to be composed of three members, to be appointed by
the governor, who shall be citizens of Virginia and shall serve during
the will and pleasure of the governor, said appointments to be subject
to confirmation by the senate of Virginia. Should the appointment of
the members of said commission, or either of them, to fill vacancies or
otherwise, be made during recess of the senate, such appointees shall
serve as other recess appointees until the next meeting of the general
‘assembly. Two members of said commission may, in the discretion of
the governor, be selected from among State officers or employees of
State supported institutions, in which case such members shall serve
without compensation and shall receive only their actual expenses during
the time necessarily occupied with the duties of said commission. [If
not otherwise in the employment of the State while serving as members
of said commission such members shall receive a reasonable per diem in
addition to their expenses, to be fixed by the governor. One member
of said commission shall he designated as director and shall be the active
head of said commission, and shall devote so much of his time to the
work as may prove necessary as the work progresses, and shall receive
such compensation as may be fixed by the commission with the approval
of the governor in addition to actual necessary expenses incurred in the
discharge of his duties. Said commission shall be provided such clerical
assistance as may be approved by the governor as necessary.

The appointments to said commission may be made as soon as prac-
ticable after the passage of this act, and organization of said commission
may he made as soon as this act goes into effect, for the purpose of map-
ping out and making plans for the work of said commission, but the
active work of said commission shall not begin before the first of Jan-
ary, nineteen hundred and twenty-five. The director shall act as
chairman of said commission, and one of their members shall be selected
as secretary.

It shall be the duty of said commission to gather and disseminate
information relative to the water powers and industrial advantages and
resources and opportunities for industrial and agricultural enterprises
or commercial power plants; to promote the development and utiliza-
tion of the water powers and other resources of the State; to seek in-
vestors and the establishment of manufactories or other enterprises
within the State; and to co-operate with any State, Federal or private
agencies for the development and utilization of the vast natural resources
of the State.

For the purpose of ascertaining more definitely the water power
rights of the State in various navigable and unnavigable streams of the
State, the attorney general, through his office is directed to investi-
gate and report to the governor before the meeting of the next general
assembly, his findings and opinions, together with such recommenda-
tions as he may think proper for any legislation which may seem ad-
visable, either to establish or more clearly define such State rights.

To defray the costs of said surveys provided for in this act, and for
compensation and expenses of the water power and development com-
mission herein created, the following sums are hereby appropriated out
of any funds in the State treasury not otherwise appropriated.

To the Virginia geological survey, to be used in conducting a water
power survey as herein provided, the sum of eight thousand five hundred
dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary for the biennium ending
March, nineteen hundred and twenty-six.

To the water power and development commission, created by this
act, to be drawn upon the order of said commission in accordance with
the provisions of this act, the sum of four thousand dollars, or so much
thereof as may be necessary, for the biennium ending March thirty
first, nineteen hundred and twenty-six.