Chapter 746. To establish a national military park at the battle fields of the siege of Petersburg, Virginia
1,207 words·~5 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-44/chapter-746-20695125·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 746.— An Act To establish a national military park at the battle fields of the siege of Petersburg, Virginia.July 3, 1926.[[H. R. 7817](/us/bill/69/hr/7817).][[Public, No. 467](/us/pl/69/467).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Petersburg National Military Park, Va.Established to preserve battle fields of, when title acquired. That in order to commemorate the campaign and siege and defense of Petersburg, Virginia., in 1864 and 1865 and to preserve for historical purposes the breastworks, earthworks, walls, or other defenses or shelters used by the armies therein the battle fields at Petersburg, in the State of Virginia, are hereby declared a national military park whenever the title to the same shall have been acquired by the United States by donation and the usual jurisdiction over the lands and roads of the same shall have been granted to the United States by the State of Virginia—that is to say, one hundred and eighty-five acres or so much thereof as the Secretary of War may deem necessary in and about the city of Petersburg, State of Virginia.
Sec. 2. Acceptance of donations of lands, etc., authorized. That the Secretary of War is hereby authorized to accept, on behalf of the United States, donations of lands, interests therein, or rights pertaining thereto required for the Petersburg National Military Park. Sec. 3. Commission to have supervision of, etc. The affairs of the Petersburg National Military Park shall, subject to the supervision and direction of the Secretary of War, be in charge of three commissioners, consisting of Army officers, civilians, or both, to be appointed by the Secretary of War, one of whom shall be designated as chairman and another as secretary of the commission.
Sec. 4. Duties of commission. It shall be the duties of the commissioners, under the direction of the Secretary of War, to superintend the opening or repair of such roads as may be necessary to the purposes of the park, and to ascertain and mark with historical tablets or otherwise, as the Secretary of War may determine, all breastworks, earthworks, walls, or other defenses or shelters, lines of battle, location of troops, buildings, and other historical points of interest within the park or in its vicinity, and the said commission in establishing the park shall have authority, under the direction of the Secretary of War, to employ such labor and service at rates to be fixed by the Secretary of War, and to obtain such supplies and materials as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 5. Acceptance of gifts, etc., authorized. The commission, acting through the Secretary of War, is authorized to receive gifts and contributions from States, Territories, societies, organizations, and individuals for the Petersburg *Proviso*.National Military Park: *Provided*, That all contributions of money823 received shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United StatesMoneys to be deposited to credit of special fund. and credited to a fund to be designated “ Petersburg National Military Park Fund,” which fund shall be applied to and expended under the direction of the Secretary of War, for carrying out the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 6. It shall be lawful for the authorities of any State havingStates may mark lines of battle of their troops. had troops engaged at Petersburg, to enter upon the lands and approaches of the. Petersburg National Military Park for the purpose of ascertaining and marking the lines of battle of troops engaged therein: *Provided*, That before any such lines are permanently designated, the position of the lines and the proposed methods*Proviso*.Approval of marking, etc., by the Secretary of War required. of marking them by monuments, tablets, or otherwise, including the design and inscription for the same, shall be submitted to the Secretary of War and shall first receive written approval of the Secretary, which approval shall be based upon formal written reports Io be made to him in each case by the commissioners of the park: *Provided*, That no discrimination shall be made against any StateNo discrimination in designating lines. as to the manner of designating lines, but any grant, made to any State by the Secretary of War may be used by any other State.
Sec. 7. If any person shall, except by permission of the SecretaryPenalty for destroying, injuring, etc., property. of War, destroy, mutilate, deface, injure, or remove any monument, column, statues, memorial structures, or work of art that shall be erected or placed upon the grounds of the park by lawful authority, or shall destroy or remove any fence, railing, inclosure, or other work for the protection or ornament of said park, or any portion thereof, or shall 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 said park, or hunt within the limits of the park, or shall remove or destroy any breastworks, earthworks, walls, or other defenses or shelter or any part thereof constructed by the armies formerly engaged in the battles on the lands or approaches to the park, any person so offending and found guilty thereof, before any United States commissioner or court, justice of the peace of the county in which the offense may be committed, or any other court of competent jurisdiction, shall for each and every such offense forfeit and pay a fine, in the discretion of the said United States commissioner or court, justice of the peace or other court, according to tire aggravation of the offense, of not less than $5 nor more than $500, one-half for the use of tire park and the other half to the informant, to be enforced and recoveredRecovery. before such United States commissioner or court, justice of the peace or other court, in like manner as debts of like nature are now by law recoverable in the several counties where the offense may be committed.
Sec. 8. The Secretary of War, subject to the approval of theRules, etc., to be prescribed. President, shall have the power to make and shall make all needful rules and regulations for the care of the park, and for the establishment and marking of lines of battle and other historical features of the park. Sec. 9. Upon completion of the acquisition of the land and theReport to Congress on acquisition of the land. work of the commission, the Secretary of War shall render a report thereon to Congress, and thereafter the park shall be placed in charge of a superintendent at a salary to be fixed by the SecretarySuperintendent to be appointed. of War and paid out of the appropriation available for the maintenance of the park.
Sec. 10. To enable the Secretary of War to begin to carry outAuthorization for expenses.*Post*, p. 1140. the provisions of this Act, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated not more than the sum of $15,000, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be available until824 expended, after the United States has acquired title, and disbursements under this Act shall be annually reported by the Secretary of War to Congress. Approved, July 3, 1926.