Chapter 51. To amend an Act entitled “An Act to authorize condemnation proceedings of lands for military purposes,” approved July second, nineteen hundred and seventeen, and for other purposes
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CHAP. 51.— An Act To amend an Act entitled “An Act to authorize condemnation proceedings of lands for military purposes,” approved July second, nineteen hundred and seventeen, and for other purposes. April 11, 1918. [[S. 3994](/us/bill/65/s/3994).] [[Public, No. 127](/us/pl/65/127).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Lands for military purposes. *Ante*, p. 241, amended. Nitrate plants, etc., added. *Post*, p. 888.
That page one, line eight, of an Act entitled “An Act to authorize condemnation proceedings of lands for military purposes,” approved July second, nineteen hundred and seventeen, be, and the same is hereby, amended by adding after the word “camps” the following: “and for the construction and operation of plants for the production of nitrates and other compounds and the manufacture of explosives and other munitions of war and for the development and transmission of power for the operation of such plants,” so that the same when amended will read as follows:
" Condemnation proceedings authorized to acquire lands, etc., for designated uses.“That hereafter the Secretary of War may cause proceedings to be instituted in the name of the United States, in any court having jurisdiction of such proceedings for the acquirement by condemnation of any land, temporary use thereof or other interest therein, or right 519pertaining thereto, needed for the site, location, construction, or prosecution of works for fortifications, coast defenses, military training camps, and for the construction and operation of plants for the production of nitrate and other compounds and the manufacture of explosives and other munitions of war and for the development and transmission of power for the operations of such plants; such proceedings to be prosecuted in accordance with the laws relating to suits for the condemnation of property of the States wherein the proceedings may be instituted: *Provided*, That when the owner of*Provisos*.
Purchases without suit. such land, interest, or rights pertaining thereto shall fix a price for the same, which in the opinion of the Secretary of War shall be reasonable, he may purchase or enter into a contract for the use of the same at such price without further delay: *Provided further*, That the SecretaryAcceptance of donations allowed. of War is hereby authorized to accept on behalf of the United States donations of land and the interest and rights pertaining thereto required for the above-mentioned purposes: *And provided further*,Immediate use in time of war before title vested.
That when such property is acquired in tune of war, or the imminence thereof, upon the filing of the petition for the condemnation of any land, temporary use thereof or other interest therein or right pertaining thereto to be acquired for any of the purposes aforesaid, immediate possession thereof may be taken to the extent of the interest to be acquired and the lands may be occupied and used for militarySuspension of restrictions. [R. S., sec. 355, p. 60.](/us/rs/s355/p60) purposes, and the provision of section three hundred and fifty-five of the Revised Statutes, providing that no public money shall be expended upon such land until the written opinion of the Attorney General shall be had in favor of the validity of the title, nor until the consent of the legislature of the State in which the land is located has been given, shall be, and the same are hereby, suspended during the period of the existing emergency.
” " Approved, April 11, 1918.