Chapter 374. To establish a national military park at the battle field of Stones River, Tennessee
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CHAP. 374.— An Act To establish a national military park at the battle field of Stones River, Tennessee.March 3, 1927.[[H. R. 6240](/us/bill/69/hr/6240).][[Public, No. 777](/us/pl/69/777).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Stones River National Park.Commission created. That a commission is hereby created, to be composed of the following members, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of War:
(1)A commissioned officer of the Corps of Engineers, UnitedArmy Engineer officer, States Army;
(2)A veteran of the Civil War who served honorably in theUnited States Civil War veteran. military forces of the United States; and
(3)A veteran of the Civil War who served honorably in theConfederate States Civil War veteran. military forces of the Confederate States of America. Sec. 2. In appointing the members of the commission created byQualifications of commission. section 1 of this Act the Secretary of War shall, as far as practicable, select persons familiar with the terrain of the battle field of Stones River, Tennessee, and the historical events associated therewith. Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the commission, acting under theInspection and report of battle field of Stones River, for preserving, etc. direction of the Secretary of War. to inspect the battle field of Stones River, Tennessee, and to carefully study the available records and historical data with respect to the location and movement of all troops which engaged in the battle of Stones River, and the important events connected therewith, with a view of preserving and marking such field for historical and professional military study. The commission shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Secretary of War not later than December 1, 1927.Report of commission. 1400 Contents.Such report shall describe the portion or portions of land within the area of the battle field which the commission thinks should be acquired and embraced in a national park and the price at which such land can be purchased and its reasonable market value; the report of the commission shall also embrace a map or maps showing the lines of battle and the locations of all troops engaged in the battle of Stones River and the location of the land which it recommends be acquired for the national park; the report of the commission shall contain recommendations for the location of historical tablets at such points on the battle field, both within and without the land to be acquired for the park, as they may deem fitting and necessary to clearly designate positions and movements of troops and important events connected with the battle of Stones River. Sec. 4.Assistance of War Department officials, etc. The Secretary of War is authorized to assign any officials of the War Department to the assistance of the commission if he deems it advisable. He is authorized to pay the reasonable expenses of the commission and their assistants incurred in the actual performance of the duties herein imposed upon them. Sec. 5.Acquiring lands by purchase or condemnation.Duties of commission. That, upon receipt of the report of said commission, the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to acquire, by purchase, when purchasable at prices deemed by him reasonable, otherwise by condemnation, such tract or tracts of lands as are recommended by the commission as necessary and desirable for a national park; to establish and substantially mark the boundaries of the said park; to definitely mark all lines of battle and locations of troops within the boundaries of the park and erect substantial historical tablets at such points within the park and in the vicinity of the park and its approaches as are recommended by the commission, together with such other points as the Secretary of War may *Proviso*.Cost limitation.deem appropriate: *Provided*, That the entire cost of acquiring said Land, including cost of condemnation proceedings, if any, ascertainment of title, surveys, and compensation for the land, the cost of marking the battle field, and the expenses of the commission, shall not exceed the sum of $100,000. Sec. 6.To be the Stones River National Park, on cession of jurisdiction by Tennessee, etc. That, upon the ceding of jurisdiction by the legislature of the State of Tennessee and the report of the Attorney General of the United States that a perfect title has been acquired, the lands acquired under the provisions of this Act, together with the area already inclosed within the national cemetery at the battle field of Stones River and the Government reservation in said battle field upon which is erected a large monument to the memory of the officers and soldiers of General Hazen’s brigade who fell on the spot, are hereby declared to be a national park, to be known as the Stones River National Park. Sec. 7.Control of Secretary of War. That the said Stones River National Park shall be under the control of the Secretary of War, and he is hereby authorized to Superintendent.make all needed regulations for the care of the park. The superintendent of the Stones River National Cemetery shall likewise be the superintendent of and have the custody and care of the Stones River National Park, under the direction of the Secretary of War. Sec. 8. Agreement with present holders of tends, for protection thereof, etc. That the Secretary of War is hereby authorized to enter into agreements, upon such nominal terms as he may prescribe, with such present owners of the land as may desire to remain upon it, to occupy and cultivate their present holdings, upon condition that they will preserve the present buildings and roads, and the present out-lines of field and forest, and that they will only cut trees or under-brush under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, and that they will assist in caring for and protecting all tablets, monuments, or such other artificial works as may from time to time be erected by proper authority. 1401 Sec. 9. That it shall be lawful for the authorities of any State States may mark lines of battle of their troops. having troops engaged in the battle of Stones River to enter upon the lands and approaches of the Stones River National Park for the purpose of ascertaining and marking the lines of battle of troops engaged therein: *Provided*, That before any such lines are permanently*Proviso*. Approval of marking, etc., by Secretary of War. designated, the position of the lines and the proposed methods of marking them by monuments, tablets, or otherwise shall be submitted to the Secretary of War, and shall first receive the written approval of the Secretary. Sec. 10. That if any person shall willfully destroy, mutilate,Penalty for destroying, injuring, etc., property. deface, injure, or remove any monument, column, statue, memorial structure, or work of art that shall be erected or placed upon the grounds of the park by lawful authority, or shall willfully destroy or remove any fence, railing, inclosure, or other work for the protection or ornament of said park, or any portion thereof, or shall willfully destroy, cut, hack, bark, break down, or otherwise injure any tree, bush, or shrubbery that may be growing upon said park, or shall cut down or fell or remove any timber, battle relic, tree, or trees growing or being upon such park, except by permission of the Secretary’ of War, or shall willfully remove or destroy any breastworks, earth-works, walls, or other defenses or shelter, or any part thereof, constructed by the armies formerly engaged in the battle on the lands or approaches to the park, any person so offending shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof before any court of competent jurisdiction, shall for each and every such offense be fined not less than $5 nor more than $100. Sec. 11. That the sum of $100,000, or so much thereof as may beAmount authorized to be expended. necessary, is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended for the purposes of this Act: *Provided*, That no obligation for the purchase*Proviso*. Conditions. of lands shall be incurred until the commission has fixed the boundaries of said park. Approved, March 3, 1927.