Chapter 226. To establish “The Glacier National Park” in the Rocky Mountains south of the international boundary line, in the State of Montana, and for other purposes
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CHAP. 226.— An Act To establish “The Glacier National Park” in the Rocky Mountains south of the international boundary line, in the State of Montana, and for other purposes. May 11, 1910.[[S. 2777](/us/bill/61/s/2777).][[Public, No. 171](/us/pl/61/171).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, The Glacier National Park, Mont. Land set apart as. Description. That the tract of land in the State of Montana particularly described by metes and bounds as follows, to wit:
Commencing at a point on the international boundary between the United States and the Dominion of Canada at the middle of the Flathead River; thence following southerly along and with the middle of the Flathead River to its confluence with the Middle Fork of the Flathead River; thence following the north bank of said Middle Fork of the Flathead River to where it is crossed by the north boundary of the right of way of the Great Northern Railroad; thence following the said right of way to where it intersects the west boundary of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation; thence northerly along said west boundary to its intersection with the international boundary; thence along said international boundary to the place of beginning, is hereby reserved and withdrawn from settlement, occupancy, or disposal under the laws of the United States, and dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasure ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of the Removal of trespassers.
United States under the name of “The Glacier National Park;” and all persons who shall locate or settle upon or occupy the same, or any part thereof, except as hereinafter provided, shall be considered trespassers *Provisos*. Valid rights not affected. and removed therefrom: *Provided*, That nothing herein contained shall affect any valid existing claim, location, or entry under the land laws of the United States or the rights of any such claimant, locator, or Rights of way for railways. entryman to the full use and enjoyment of his land: *Provided further*, That rights of way through the valleys of the North and Middle forks of the Flathead River for steam or electric railways may be acquired within said Glacier National Park under filings or proceedings heretofore or hereafter made or instituted under the laws applicable to the acquisition of such rights over or upon the unappropriated public Reclamation projects. domain of the United States, and that the United States Reclamation Service may enter upon and utilize for flowage or other purposes any area within said park which may be necessary for the development and No indemnity selections allowed corporations. maintenance of a government reclamation project: *And provided further*, That no lands within the limits of said park hereby created belonging to or claimed by any railroad or other corporation now having or claiming the right of indemnity selection by virtue of any law or contract whatsoever shall be used as a basis for indemnity selection in any State or Territory whatsoever for any loss sustained by reason of the creation of said park.
Sec. 2. Regulations for protection, etc. That said park shall be under the exclusive control of the Secretary of the Interior, whose duty it shall be, as soon as practicable, to make and publish such rules and regulations not inconsistent 355 with the laws of the United States as he may deem necessary or proper for the care, protection, management, and improvement of the same, which regulations shall provide for the preservation of the park in a state of nature so far as is consistent with the purposes of this Act, and for the care and protection of the fish and game within the boundaries thereof.
Said Secretary may, in his discretion, execute leases to parcels Leases for hotels, etc. of ground not exceeding ten acres in extent at any one place to any one person or company, for not to exceed twenty years, when such ground is necessary for the erection of buildings for the accommodation of visitors, and to parcels of ground not exceeding one acre in extent and for not to exceed twenty years to persons who have heretofore erected or whom he may hereafter authorize to erect summer homes or cottages; he may also sell and permit the removal of such Removal of dead, etc., timber. matured, or dead or down timber as he may deem necessary or advisable for the protection or improvement of the park.
Approved, May 11, 1910.