Delaware General Assembly


CHAPTER 5 - CESSION OF LANDS TO U. S. GOVERNMENT

AN ACT TO CEDE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CERTAIN LAND ALONG THE COAST LINE OF DELAWARE, BORDERING DELAWARE BAY IN THE VICINITY OF LEWES, DELAWARE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF NATIONAL DEFENSE.

WHEREAS, The land along the coast line of Delaware from the Quarantine Station to the point of the Cape at Lewes, Delaware, is required for use by the United States of America in connection with the defenses of Delaware Bay; and

WHEREAS, The United States of America is contemplating placing several installations on said lands if and when funds are appropriated by the United States Congress for this purpose; and

WHEREAS, Said installation along said coast will be made and said land utilized in other ways in any defense of the Delaware Bay against a foreign power with which the United States of America is at war; therefore,

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Delaware in General Assembly met:

Section 1. That all the right, title, interest, and property in and to the coast line of Delaware from the Quarantine Station to the point of the Cape at Lewes, bordering Delaware Bay in the vicinity of Lewes, Delaware, shall be and hereby is ceded to and vested in the United States of America for a period of eight (8) years as fully and to the same extent as this State now holds and is entitled to the same together with the jurisdiction thereof, provided, however, that in the event said land is put to use by the placing of several installations along said coast line by the United States of America, during the period of this grant, then this grant shall be extended indefinitely, so long as the said land is continued to be used by the said Government for such purposes; provided, nevertheless, that in the event that the said Government shall cease to use the said land for the purposes hereinabove stated, then and in such event the said land shall revert back to the State of Delaware and all rights ceded by this Act shall cease and determine.

Section 2. The sovereignty and jurisdiction of this State over the land herein conveyed to such extent as is existing at the present time is hereby rendered so far as that of civil and criminal processes as may issue under the authority of this State against any person or persons charged with crime or other offenses committed without such land may be executed therein in the same way and manner as if this consent had not been made.

Approved March 29, 1935.