Chapter 363. To provide for the establishment of the Shenandoah National Park in the State of Virginia and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in the States of North Carolina and Tennessee, and for other purposes
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CHAP. 363.— An Act To provide for the establishment of the Shenandoah National Park in the State of Virginia and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in the States of North Carolina and Tennessee, and for other purposes.May 22, 1926.[[S. 4073](/us/bill/69/s/4073).][[Public, No. 268](/us/pl/69/268).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and Home of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,National parks.Shenandoah, Va., and Great Smoky Mountains, N. C. and Tenn., set apart as, when lands therefor vested in United States.Tract in the Blue Ridge, Va.
That when title to lands within the areas hereinafter referred to shall have been vested in the United States in fee simple there shall be, and are hereby, established, dedicated, and set apart as public parks for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, the tract of land in the Blue Ridge, in the State of Virginia, being approximately five hundred and twenty-one thousand acres recommended by the Secretary of the Interior in his report of April 14, 1926, which area, or any part or parts thereof as may be accepted on behalf of the United States in accordance with the provisions hereof, shall be known as the In the Great Smoky Mountains, N.
C. and Tenn.Shenandoah National Park; and the tract of land in the Great Smoky Mountains in the States of North Carolina and Tennessee being approximately seven hundred and four thousand acres, recommended by the Secretary of the Interior in his report of April 14, 1926, which area, or any part or parts thereof as may be accepted on behalf of the United States in accordance with the provisions hereof, shall be known as the Great Smoky Mountains *Proviso*.Lands to be secured only by donation.*Post*, p. 966.National Park: *Provided*, That the United States shall not purchase by appropriation of public moneys any land within the aforesaid areas, but that such lands shall be secured by the United States only by public or private donation.
Sec. 2. Acceptance of title of lands in Shenandoah Lark area in Virginia.The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized, in his discretion, to accept as hereinafter provided on behalf of the United States title to the lands referred to in the previous section hereof and to be purchased with the $1,200,000 which has been subscribed by the State of Virginia, and the Shenandoah National Park Association of Virginia and with other contributions for the purchase In Smoky Mountain Park area in Tennessee and North Carolina.of lands in the Shenandoah National Park area, and with the $1,066,693 which has been subscribed by the State of Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains Conservation Association and by the Great Smoky Mountains (Incorporated) (North Carolina) and with other contributions for the purchase of lands in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park area.
Sec. 3. National Park Service to administer, etc.That the administration, protection, and development of the aforesaid parks shall be exercised under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior by the National Park Service, subject to Vol. 39, p. 535.the provisions of the Act of August 25, 1916, entitled “ An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes,” as *Proviso*.Water power Act not applicable.Vol. 41, p. 1063.Minimum area specified.amended: *Provided*, That the provisions of the Act approved June 10, 1920, known as the Federal Water Power Act, shall not apply to these parks: *And provided further*, That the minimum area to be administered and protected by the National Park Service shall be for the Shenandoah National Park area two hundred and fifty thousand acres and for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park 617area one hundred and fifty thousand acres: *Provided further'*, ThatArea to be accepted before any development made. no general development, of either of these areas shall be undertaken until a major portion of the remainder in such area shall have been accepted by said Secretary.
Sec. 4. The Secretary of the Interior may for the purpose ofCommission employed.Vol. 43, p. 959. carrying out the provisions of this Act employ the commission authorized by the Act approved February 21, 1925. Approved, May 22, 1926.