Chapter 19. To establish the Rocky Mountain National Park in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes
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CHAP. 19.— An Act To establish the Rocky Mountain National Park in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes.January 26, 1915.[[S. 6309](/us/bill/63/s/6309).][[Public, No. 238](/us/pl/63/238).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Rocky Mountain National Park. Colo., established.That the tract of land in the State of Colorado particularly described by and included within Description.metes and bounds as follows, to wit:
Beginning at the southeast corner of section thirty-four, township three north range seventy-three west of the sixth principal meridian, Colorado, thence north along the section lines to the northeast corner of section three, said township; thence west to the northwest comer of said section; thence north along the section lines to the northeast corner of section sixteen, township four north, range seventy-three west; thence west to the northwest corner of said section; thence north to the northeast comer of section eight, said township; thence west along the section lines to the northwest comer of section seven, said township; thence north to the northeast corner of township four north, range seventy-four west; thence west along the first correction line north, to the southeast corner of section thirty-six, township five north, range seventy-four west; thence north along the range line to the north- 799 east corner of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section thirteen, said township; thence west to the northwest comer of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section four-teen. said township; thence north to the northwest comer of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section eleven, said township; thence east to the northeast corner of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section twelve, said township; thence south along the range line to the southeast corner of said section; thence east along the section lines to the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of section ten, township five north, range seventy-three west; thence north to the northeast comer of the southwest quarter of said section; thence east to the southeast comer of the northeast quarter of said section; thence north to the northeast comer of said section; thence east to the southeast comer of the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section two, said township; thence north to the northeast comer of the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of said section; thence east to the southeast comer of the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter, said section; thence north to the northeast comer of the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of said section; thence east to the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section one, said town-ship; thence north along the range line to the northeast comer of section thirty-six, township seven north, range seventy-three west; thence west along the section lines to the intersection with the west bank of the Big South Cache la Poudre River in township seven north, range seventy-five west; thence southeasterly along the west bank of said river to the mouth of a tributary of said river, probably in section one, township six north, range seventy-five west; said tributary heading at La Poudre Pass in section twenty, township six north, range seventy-five west; thence southwesterly along the west bank of said tributary to its head; thence across the continental divide to the headwaters of the North Fork of the Grand River, which also heads at La Poudre Pass; thence down the west bank of the North Fork of the Grand River to its intersection with the section line between sections twenty-nine and thirty, township six north, range seventy-five west; thence south along the section lines to the southeast corner of section eighteen, township five north, range seventy-five west; thence west along the section line to its intersection with the west bank of the North Fork of the Grand River; thence down the west bank of the North Fork of the Grand River to its intersection with the section line between sections twenty-five and thirty-six, township four north, range seventy-six west; thence east to the northeast comer of section thirty-six, said township; thence south along the range line to the southeast comer of said township; thence east along the township line to the north-east comer of the northwest quarter of section four, township three north, range seventy-five west; thence south to the southwest comer of the northeast quarter of section nine, said township; thence west along the quarter section line to its intersection with a creek in section seven, said township, this creek being an outlet of Grand Lake, and flowing into the North Fork of the Grand River; thence southerly along the said creek to its junction with the North Fork of the Grand River; thence southerly along the west bank of the North Fork of the Grand River to its intersection with the town-ship line between townships two and three north; thence east along the township line to the southeast comer of section thirty-four, township three north, range seventy-three west of the sixth principal meridian, Colorado, the place of beginning, all of said above-described tract now being included within the boundaries of the counties of Grand, Boulder, and Larimer, in the State of Colorado, 800 is hereby reserved and withdrawn from settlement, occupancy, or disposal under the laws of the United States, and said tract is dedicated and set apart as a public park for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of the United States, under the name of the Rocky *Proviso*.Reclamation Service use allowed.Mountain National Park: *Provided*, 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 maintenance of a Government reclamation project.
Sec. 2.Existing entries, etc., not impaired.That nothing herein contained shall affect any valid existing claim, location, or entry under the land laws of the United States, whether for homestead, mineral, right of way, or any other purpose whatsoever, or shall affect the rights of any such claimant, locator, Rights of way.Vol. 31, p. 790.or entryman to the full use and enjoyment of his land. Whenever consistent with the primary purposes of the park the Act of February fifteenth, nineteen hundred and one, applicable to the location of rights of way in certain national parks and the national forests for irrigation and other purposes, shall be and remain applicable to the lands included within the park.
The Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion and upon such conditions as he may deem wise, grant easements or rights of way for steam, electric, or similar transportation upon or across the park. Sec. 3. Present ownership not affected. That no lands located within the park boundaries now held in private, municipal, or State ownership shall be affected by or subject to the provisions of this Act. Sec. 4. Regulation of control, etc.That the said park shall be under the executive control of the Secretary of the Interior, and it shall be the duty of the said executive authority, as soon as practicable, to make and publish such reasonable rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the laws of the United States, as the said authority may deem necessary or proper for the care, protection, management, and improvement of the same, the said regulations being primarily aimed at the freest use of the said park for recreation purposes by the public and for the preservation of the natural conditions and scenic beauties Leases for accommodations of visitors, etc.thereof.
The said authority may, in his discretion, execute leases to parcels of ground not exceeding twenty acres in extent in any one place to any person or company for not to exceed twenty years whenever such ground is necessary for the erection of establishments for the accommodation of visitors, may grant such other necessary privileges and concessions as he deems wise for the accommodation of visitors and may likewise arrange for the removal of such mature or dead or down timber as he may deem necessary and advisable for the protection and improvement of the park.
The regulations governing the park shall include provisions for the use of *Proviso*.Limit on appropriations.automobiles therein: *Provided*, That no appropriation for the maintenance, supervision or improvement of said park in excess of $10,000 annually shall be made unless the same shall have first been expressly authorized by law. Approved, January 26, 1915.