Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-12

Mr. Epes's Bill to Make Them Ma
tfOnal Park.

WASHINGTON, January n.-Following
is a copy, made especially for the Dis
patch, of Representative Epes's bill to
make a national park Of the battle-felds
near Petersburg:
''Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House
Of Representatives Of the United States
of America, in Congress assembled, That
for the purpose Of preserving and suit
ably marking for historical and profess
sional military study fields or battle
wherein were executed some or the most
important manOeuyreS and occurred some
of the most brilliant fighting in the late
war, and upon the ceding of Jurisdiction
10 the United States by the state or VIZ
ginia and the report OF the Attorney
General Of the United States that the tltie
to the lands thus coded is perfect, the
following described parts Of highways in
said State are hereby declared 10 be ap-
proaches TO and parts of the Petersburg
National Park as established by tho Sc
cOnd section of this act-to w.t. all parts
of all public roads in the counties of Din
widdie and Prince George, In that State,
leading into the city of Petersburg, which
lie between such parts Of the military
lines of the Union and Confederate armies
around that city. and are within a dis
lance of 200 yards from any OF the lines,
and each of tho parts of those roads shall
remain open as free public highways, and
all rights Of way now existing through
the grounds Of the park, and its APP
proaches shall be continued;
provided That the words military
lines, as used in this and subsequent Sec
tions Of this act, shall be construed 10
embrace only such portions of the origi
nal lines as they stood i'm April 1860, as
the commissioners 10 be appointed as
hereinafter provided shall select as Of
sufficient general Importance and interest
TO be suitable and proper TO be acquired
by the United States under section second
Of this act. and TO constitute a part OF
tho military park, and as shall be 50 ac-
quired.
Section 2. That upon the ceding OF the
Jurisdiction by the Legislature Of the
State Of Virginia, and the report OF the
Acknowledgement of the United states
that n perfect title has been secured un-
der the provisions Of the act approved
August l, 1885, entitled An act
10 authorize condemnation of land for
sites of public buildings. and for other
purposes the lands and roads embraced
I'm the area bounded as herein described
together with the roads and parts or
roads described in section l of this act
are hereby declared TO be a national park,
TO be known as the Petersburg National
Park-that is to say. the territory IN the
counties named, lying along the military
lines and enclosed within lines parallel
thereto at a distance therefrom not ex>
ceeding 200 yards; provided, that such
parts of that territory as in the Judg-
ment Of the three commissioners hereln-
after provided for may be properly eA.
cluded from the provisions OF this act
as having been the scene OF no military
operations Of special importance or In
terest. shall be deemed to be not parts
of the park.
CONTROL AND TITLES.
section 3. That the Petersburg National
Park. and the approaches thereto, shall
be under the control Of the Secretary of
War. and il shall be his duty, immedi-
ately after the passage OF this act, 10
notify the AttOrney-General or the pur-
nose of the United States to acquire title
To- the roads and lands described i'm the
previous sections Of this act, under the
provisions of the act OF August l. 1883,
and the Secretary, upon receiving nOuce
from the Acknowledgement OF the United
States that perfect titles have been Sc
cured to the lands and roads shall at
once proceed to establish and substan-
tally mark the boundaries of the park
"Section 4. That the Secretary or war
IS hereby authorized to enter into agree
ments upon such nominal terms as ne
NAV prescribe with such present owners
of The land as may desire 10 remain upon
il. TO occupy and cultivate their pre-ent
holdings upon condition that 'hey VIII
nreserVe the present buildings ana roads
and the present outlines OF field ana
forest. and that they will only cut trees
or underbrush under such regulations as
the Secretary may prescribe, ana tndl
they will assist In caring FOR and pro-
tecfing all tablets. monuments, or such
other artificial works as may from time
IN time be erected by proper authority.
THE COMMISSIONERS.
"section s. That the affairs of the Pc
tersburg National Park shall, subject TO
The supervision and direction OF the Secre-
tarv OF War, be in charge Of three COM
misrioners. each of whom shall have ac-
lively participated I'm one OF the battles
about Petersburg. two 10 be appointed
from civil life by the Secretary OF War.
and a third, VINO shall be detailed by the
Secretary of War from among those OIL
Gers of the army best acquainted with
the details Of the battles about Peters
burg who shall act as secretary OF the
commission. The said commissioners and
secretary shall have an office In the War
Department building. and while on actual
dufv shall be paid such compensation, out
of The appropriation provided in this act,
as the Secretary OF War shall deem rea-
sOnable and Just.
section q. That Il shall be the duty Of
the commissioners named in the preceding
section. under the direction OF the Secre-
tarv OF War, 10 superlntend the opening
Of such roads as may be necessary 10 the
purposes OF the park. and the repair OF
the roads OF the same and to ascertain