Chapter 44. To establish the Grand Canyon National Park in the State of Arizona
2,046 words·~9 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-40/chapter-44-4906073·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 44.— An Act To establish the Grand Canyon National Park in the State of Arizona. February 26, 1919.[[S. 390](/us/bill/65/s/390).][[Public, No. 277](/us/pl/65/277).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That there is hereby reserved Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz.Land set apart for.and withdrawn from settlement, occupancy, or disposal under the laws of the United States and dedicated and set apart as a public park for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, under the name of the “Grand Canyon National Park,” the tract of land in the State of Arizona particularly described by and included within metes and bounds as follows, to wit:
Beginning at a point which is the northeast corner of township Description.thirty north, range one east, of the Gila and Salt River meridian, Arizona; thence west on township line between townships thirty and thirty-one north, range one east, to section corner common to sections one and two, township thirty north, range one east, and thirty-five and thirty-six, township thirty-one north, range one east; thence north on section lines to the intersection with Tobocobya Spring-Rowe Well Road; thence northwesterly along the southwesterly side of said Tobocobya Spring-Rowe Well Road, passing and in relation to United States Geological Survey bench marks stamped “Canyon” and numbered 6340, 6235, 6372, 6412, 6302, 6144, and 6129, through townships thirty-one and thirty-two north, ranges one east and one and two west, to its intersection with the section line between sections nine and sixteen in township thirty-two north, range two west; thence west along the section lines through townships thirty-two north, ranges two and three west, to its intersection with upper westerly rim of Cataract Canyon; thence northwesterly along upper rim of 1176Cataract Canyon, crossing Hualapai Canyon and continuing northwesterly along said upper rim to its intersection with range line, township thirty-three north, between ranges four and five west; thence north on said range line, townships thirty-three and thirty-four north, ranges four and five west, to north bank of the Colorado River; thence northeasterly along the north bank of the Colorado River to junction with Tapeats Creek; thence easterly along north bank of Tapeats Creek to junction with Spring Creek; thence easterly along the north bank of Spring Creek to its intersection with Gila and Salt River meridian, townsnip thirty-four north, between ranges one east and one west and between section six, township thirty-four north, range one east, and section one, township thirty-four north, range one west; thence south on range line between ranges one east and one west to section comer common to sections seven and eighteen, township thirty-four north, range one east, and sections twelve and thirteen, township thirty-four north, range one west; thence east on section lines to section corner common to sections seven, eight, seventeen, and eighteen, township thirty-four north, range two east; thence south on section lines to township line between townships thirty-three and thirty-four north, range two east, at section corner common to sections thirty-one and thirty-two, township thirty-four north, range two east, and sections five and six, township thirty-three north, range two east; thence east on township line to section corner common to sections thirty-one and thirty-two, township thirty-four north, range three east, and sections five and six, township thirty-three north, range three east; thence south on section lines to section comer common to sections seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, and twenty, township thirty-three north, range three east; thence east on section lines to section comer common to sections thirteen, fourteen, twenty-three, and twenty-four, township thirty-three north, range three east; thence north on section lines to section comer common to sections one, two, eleven, and twelve, township thirty-three north, range three east; thence east on section lines to the intersection with upper rim of Grand Canyon; thence northerly along said upper rim of Grand Canyon to main hydrographic divide north of Nankoweap Creek; thence easterly along the said hydrographic divide to its intersection with the Colorado River, approximately at the mouth of Nankoweap Creek; thence easterly across the Colorado River and up the hydrographic divide nearest the junction of Nankoweap Creek and Colorado River to a point on the upper east rim of the Grand Canyon; thence by shortest route to an intersection with range line, townships thirty-three and thirty-four north, between ranges five and six east; thence south on said range line, between ranges five and six east, to section comer common to sections eighteen and nineteen, township thirty-three north, range six east, and sections, thirteen and twenty-four, township thirty-three north, range five east; thence east on section lines to section comer common to sections sixteen, seventeen, twenty, and twenty-one, township thirty-three north, range six east; thence south on section fines to section comer common to sections eight, nine, sixteen, and seventeen, township thirty-one north, range six east; thence west on section line to section comer common to sections seven, eight, seventeen, and eighteen, township thirty-one north, range six east; thence south on section lines to townsnip fine between townships thirty and thirty-one north at section comer common to sections thirty-one and thirty-two, township thirty-one north, range six east, and sections five and six, township thirty north, range six east; thence west on township line to section corner common to sections thirty-four and thirty-five, township thirty-one north, range five east, and sections two and three, township thirty north, range five east; thence south on section line to section corner common to sections two, 1177three, ten, and eleven, township thirty north, range five east; thence west on section lines to range line, township thirty north, between ranges four and five east, at section comer common to sections six and seven, township thirty north, range five east, and one and twelve, township thirty north, range four east; thence south on range line, township thirty north, between ranges four and five east, to section comer common to sections seven and eighteen, township thirty north, range five east, and sections twelve and thirteen, township thirty north, range four east; thence west on section line to section comer common to sections eleven, twelve, thirteen, and fourteen, township thirty north, range four east; thence south on section line to section corner common to sections thirteen, fourteen, twenty-three, and twenty-four, town-ship thirty north, range four east; thence west on section lines to section corner common to sections fifteen, sixteen, twenty-one, and twenty-two, township thirty north, range four east; thence south on section line to section comer common to sections twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-seven, and twenty-eight, township thirty north, range four east; thence west on section lines to range line, township thirty north, between ranges three and four east, at section corner common to sections nineteen and thirty, township thirty north, range four east, and sections twenty-four and twenty-five, township thirty north, range three east; thence north on range line to section comer common to sections eighteen and nineteen, township thirty north, range four east, and sections thirteen and twenty-four, township thirty north, range three east; thence west on sections lines to section comer common to sections fourteen, fifteen, twenty-two, and twenty-three, township thirty north, range three east; thence north on section line to section comer common to sections ten, eleven, fourteen, and fifteen, township thirty north, range three east; thence west on section lines to range line at section corner common to sections seven and eighteen, township thirty north, range three east, and sections twelve and thirteen, township thirty north, range two east; thence north on range line to section comer common to sections six and seven, township thirty north, range three east, and sections one and twelve, township thirty north, range two east; thence west on section line to section comer common to sections one, two, eleven, and twelve, township thirty north, range two east; thence north on section line to township line at section comer common to sections thirty-five and thirty-six, township thirty-one north, range two east, and sections one and two, township thirty north, range two east; thence west on township line to the northeast corner of township thirty north, range one east, the place of beginning.
Sec. 2. That the administration, protection, and promotion of Administration by National Park Service.Vol. 39, p. 535.said Grand Canyon National Park shall be exercised, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, by the National Park Service, subject to the provisions of the Act of August twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred and sixteen, entitled “An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes: *Provided*, That all concessions for *Proviso*.Concessions to highest bidder.hotels, camps, transportation, and other privileges of every kind and nature for the accommodation or entertainment of visitors shall be let at public bidding to the best and most responsible bidder.
Sec. 3. That nothing herein contained shall affect the rights of the Rights of Havasupai Indians not abridged.Havasupai Tribe of Indians to the use and occupancy of the bottom lands of the Canyon of Cataract Creek as described in the Executive order of March thirty-first, eighteen hundred and eighty-two, and the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized, in his discretion, to permit individual members of said tribe to use and occupy other tracts of land within said park for agricultural purposes.
Sec. 4. That nothing herein contained shall affect any valid existing Existing rights not affected.claim, location, or entry under the land laws of the United States, 1178whether for homestead, mineral, right of way, or any other purpose whatsoever, or shall affect the rights of any such claimant, locator, or entryman to the full use and enjoyment of his land and nothing herein contained shall affect, diminish, or impair the right and authority of the county of Coconino, in the State of Arizona, to levy Bright Angel Toll Road and Trail.Purchase authorized.and collect tolls for the passage of live stock over and upon the Bright Angel Toll Road and Trail, and the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to negotiate with the said county of Coconino for the purchase of said Bright Angel Toll Road and Trail and all rights therein, and report to Congress at as early a date as possible the terms upon which the property can be procured.
Sec. 5. Rights of way authorized.Vol. 31, p. 790.That whenever consistent with the primary purposes of said park the Act of February fifteenth, nineteen hundred and one, applicable to the locations of rights of way in certain national parks and the national forests for irrigation and other purposes, and subsequent Acts shall be and remain applicable to the lands included For railroads.within the park. The Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion and upon such conditions as he may deem proper, grant easements or rights of way for railroads upon or across the park.
Sec. 6. Mineral prospecting permitted.That whenever consistent with the primary purposes of said park, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized, under general regulations to be prescribed by him, to permit the prospecting, development, and utilization of the mineral resources of said park upon such terms and for specified periods, or otherwise, as he may deem to be for the best interests of the United States. Sec. 7. Irrigation projects.That, whenever consistent with the primary purposes of said park, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to permit the utilization of areas therein which may be necessary for the development and maintenance of a Government reclamation project.
Sec. 8. Building, etc., restrictions on private lauds.That where privately owned lands within the said park lie within three hundred feet of the rim of the Grand Canyon no building, tent, fence, or other structure shall be erected on the park lands lying between said privately owned lands and the rim. Sec. 9. Grand Canyon National Monument vacated.The Executive order of January eleventh, nineteen hundred and eight, creating the Grand Canyon National Monument, is hereby revoked and repealed, and such parts of the Grand Canyon National Park lands excluded from game preserve.Vol. 34, p. 607.Game Preserve, designated under authority of the Act of Congress, approved June twenty-ninth, nineteen hundred and six, entitled “An Act for the protection of wild animals in the Grand Canyon Forest Reserve,” as are by this Act included with the Grand Canyon National Park are hereby excluded and eliminated from said game preserve.
Approved, February 26, 1919.