3546 ARTICLE 96

An. Code, 1924, sec. 1. 1912, sec. 1. 1904, sec. 1. 1888, sec. 1. 1874, ch. 193, sec. 1.

1. The consent of the State is given to the purchase by the government
of the United States, or under the authority of the same, of any tract,
piece or parcel of land not exceeding five acres, from any individual or
individuals, bodies politic or corporate within the boundaries or limits of
the State, for the purpose of erecting thereon light-houses, beacons and
other aids to navigation; and all deeds and conveyances of title papers for
the same shall be recorded, as in other cases, upon the land records of the
county in which the land so conveyed may lie; the consent herein given
being in accordance with the seventeenth clause of the eighth section of the
first article of the constitution of the United States and with the acts of
congress in such cases made and provided.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 2. 1912, sec. 2. 1904, sec. 2. 1888, sec. 2. 1874, ch. 193, sec. 2.

2. With respect to land covered by the navigable waters within the
limits of the State, and on which a light-house, beacon or other aid to navi-
gation has been built, or is about to be built, the governor of the State, on
application of an authorized agent of the United States, setting forth a
description of the site required, is authorized and empowered to convey
the title to the United States, and to cede jurisdiction over the same; pro-
vided, no single tract shall contain more than five acres.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 3. 1912, sec. 3. 1904, sec. 3. 1888, sec. 3. 1874, ch. 193, sec. 3.

3. The lots, parcels or tracts of land so ceded to the United States,
together with the tenements and appurtenances, for the purpose before
mentioned, shall be held exempt from taxation by the State of Maryland.
As to exemptions from taxation, see art. 81, sec. 7.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 4. 1912, sec. 4. 1904, sec. 4. 1888, sec. 4. 1874, ch. 193, sec. 4.

4. This State shall retain concurrent jurisdiction with the United
States in and over the tracts of land aforesaid, so that criminal and civil
processes, issued under the authority of the State by any officer thereof,
may be executed on said lands and in the buildings that may be erected
thereon, in the same way and manner as if jurisdiction had not been ceded;
and exclusive jurisdiction shall revert to and revest in this State whenever
the said tract of land shall permanently cease to be used and occupied by
the United States for any of the purposes heretofore enumerated.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 5. 1912, sec. 5. 1904, sec. 5. 1888, see. 5. 1874, ch. 395, sec. 1.

5. Whenever the United States are desirous of purchasing or procuring
the title to any tract, piece or parcel of land within the boundaries or limits
of this State, for the purpose of erecting thereon any lighthouse, beacon-
light, range-light, light-keeper's dwelling, forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-
yards, buoys, public piers, or necessary public buildings or improvements
connected therewith, and cannot agree with the owner thereof as to the
price and for the purchase thereof; or if the owner be feme covert, under
age, non compos mentis, or out of the county wherein the said land lies, or
for any other cause is incapable of making a perfect title to said lands, the
United States, by any agent authorized under the hand and seal of any
member of the president's cabinet, may apply by petition in writing to
the circuit court for the county where the land lies; which petition shall
be filed with the clerk of said court, to have the said land condemned for