Chap. 477.—An ACT to define and to provide for a survey and marking of the
boundary of Virginia and Maryland along the Potomac river as laid down by

the award of 1877 and to authorize the expenditure necessary therefor.
[S B 135]

Approved March 26, 1928

Whereas, the boundary line described in the award of the arbitra-
tion authorized by the general assembly of Maryland and Virginia,
which award was accepted by Maryland (acts of assembly eighteen
hundred and seventy-eight, chapter two hundred and forty-seven),
and by Virginia (acts of assembly eighteen hundred and seventy-seven
and eighteen hundred and seventy-eight, chapter two hundred and
forty-six), and approved by congress March third, eighteen hundred
and seventy-nine, has never been surveyed and monumented along the
Potomac river.

Whereas, because of uncertainties as to the actual position of such
unmarked line, which was only partially represented on the map ac-
companying and made part of the award of eighteen hundred and
seventy-seven, above described, the governors of Virginia and Mary-
land have caused the entire line along the Potomac river to be drawn
on maps by Edward B. Mathews, geologist, State of Maryland, and
by Wilbur A. Nelson, State geologist of Virginia, in acordance with
their best judgment of the award of eighteen hundred and seventy-
seven; now, therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia as follows:

Section 1. The line laid down by Edward B. Mathews and Wilbur
A. Nelson is hereby approved as a just and fair expression of the
award of eighteen hundred and seventy-seven regarding the .boundary
line along the Potomac river in so far as the same was not represented
on the map accompanying the award of eighteen hundred and seventy-
seven and the said line is hereby accepted and declared to be a true
representation of part of the boundary line between Virginia and
Maryland already accepted by both States.

Section 2. If and when the aforesaid line shall have been ratified
by both States, the governor of Virginia is hereby authorized and di-
rected to co-operate with the governor of Maryland in soliciting the
United States coast and geodetic survey or other agencies of the fed-
eral government to supply the necessary skilled and impartial engi-
neers who shall survey said line and properly mark and document it
on the ground with sufficient points to insure, that it may be readily
recognized or restored if destroyed. The work of the engineers shall
also include the presentation of a report giving an account of their
work and a full description of each and every location permanently
marked by them.

Section 3. The governor is hereby authorized and directed to enter
into an agreement or contract in-the name of the State of Virginia to
pay such part of the expenses incurred in making said survey and
marking the line thereof, as above described, as are properly chargeable
to the State of Virginia, and the governor is further authorized, if he
deems it advisable to do so, to appoint a competent commissioner who
shall represent the interest of the State of Virginia during the survey
and marking of said line. It is expressly provided, however, that the
expense incurred on behalf of the State of Virginia, under the provi-
sions of this act, shall not exceed ten thousand dollars and shall be
paid upon the order of the governor out of the appropriation herein
made, out of the game protection fund created under the provisions
of an act approved March twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred and
twenty-six (acts of assembly, nineteen hundred and twenty-six, chap-
ter two hundred and ninety-five, pages five hundred and eleven-five
hundred and fifteen).

Section 4. When the said line is surveyed and marked upon the
ground the governor is hereby authorized and directed to take such
action in co-operation with the governor of Maryland as may be neces-
sary to secure the approval by congress of the line so surveyed and
marked, in order that thereafter there may not arise any question of
controversy to disturb the comity and mutual goodwill so essential to
the wellbeing of contiguous States.

Section 5. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this
act there is hereby appropriated out of the aforesaid game protection
fund the sum of ten thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be
necessary.