Chapter 408. To establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes
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CHAP. 408.— An Act To establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes. August 25, 1916[[H. R. 15522](/us/bill/64/hr/15522)][[Public, No. 235](/us/pl/64/235)] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* That there is hereby createdNational Park Service established.Director, etc., to be appointed. in the Department of the Interior a service to be called the National Park Service, which shall be under the charge of a director, who shall be appointed by the Secretary and who shall receive a salary of $4,500 per annum.
There shall also be appointed by the Secretary the following assistants and other employees at the salaries designated: One assistant director, at $2,500 per annum; one chief clerk, at $2,000 per annum; one draftsman, at $1,800 per annum; one messenger, at $600 per annum; and, in addition thereto, such other employees as the Secretary of the Interior shall deem necessary: *Provided*, That not*Proviso*.Limit for experts, etc. more than $8,100 annually shall be expended for salaries of experts, assistants, and employees within the District of Columbia not herein specifically enumerated unless previously authorized by law.
ThePurpose defined. service thus established shall promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as national parks, monuments, and reservations hereinafter specified by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental purpose of the said parks, monuments, and reservations, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.
Sec. 2. That the director shall, under the direction of the SecretaryDirector.Control of national parks, monuments, etc.*Ante*, pp. 23, 309. of the Interior, have the supervision, management, and control of the several national parks and national monuments which are now under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior, and of the Hot Springs Reservation in the State of Arkansas, and of such other national parks and reservations of like character as may be hereafter created by Congress: *Provided*, That in the supervision, management,*Proviso*.National monuments contiguous to national forests. and control of national monuments contiguous to national forests the Secretary of Agriculture may cooperate with said National Park Service to such extent as may be requested by the Secretary of the Interior.
Sec. 3. That the Secretary of the Interior shall make and publishRegulations for management, etc., to be made. such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary or proper for the use and management of the parks, monuments, and reservations under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, and any violationsPunishment for violations.Vol. 36, p. 857. of any of the rules and regulations authorized by this Act shall be punished as provided for in section fifty of the Act entitled “An Act to codify and amend the penal laws of the United States,” approved March fourth, nineteen hundred and nine, as amended by section six of the Act of June twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred and ten (Thirty-sixth United States Statutes at Large, page eight hundred and fifty-seven).
He may also, upon terms and conditions to be fixedDisposal of timber. by him, sell or dispose of timber in those cases where in his judgment the cutting of such timber is required in order to control the attacks of insects or diseases or otherwise conserve the scenery or the natural or historic objects in any such park, monument, or reservation. He may also provide in his discretion for the destruction of such animals and. of such plant life as may be detrimental to the use of any of said parks, monuments, or reservations.
He may also grant privileges,Leases, etc., for accommodating visitors. leases, and permits for the use of land for the accommodation of visitors in the various parks, monuments, or other reservations herein provided for, but for periods not exceeding twenty years; and no natural curiosities, wonders, or objects of interest shall be leased, rented, or granted to anyone on such terms as to interfere with free access to them by the public: *Provided, however*, That the Secretary of the Interior*Proviso*.Grazing permits. may, under such rules and regulations and on such terms as he may prescribe, grant the privilege to graze live stock within any 536national park, monument, or reservation herein referred to when in his judgment such use is not detrimental to the primary purpose for which such park, monument, or reservation was created, except that Yellowstone Park excepted.this provision shall not apply to the Yellowstone National Park.
Sec. 4. Rights of way not affected.Vol. 31, p. 790. That nothing in this Act contained shall affect or modify the provisions of the Act approved February fifteenth, nineteen hundred and one, entitled “An Act relating to rights of way through certain parks, reservations, and other public lands.” Approved, August 25, 1916.