Chapter 208. To authorize exchange of lands with owners of private-land holdings within the Chaco Canyon National Monument New Mexico, and for other purposes
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CHAP. 208.— An Act To authorize exchange of lands with owners of private-land holdings within the Chaco Canyon National Monument New Mexico, and for other purposes. February 17, 1931.[[H. R. 10576](/us/bill/71/hr/10576).][[Public, No. 674](/us/pl/71/674).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That the Secretary Chaco Canyon National Monument; N. Mex.Acquisition of privately owned lands in.of the Interior, for the purpose of eliminating private holdings of land within the Chaco Canyon National Monument, New Mexico, is hereby empowered, in his discretion, to obtain for the United States the complete title to any or all alienated lands within the boundaries of the Chaco Canyon National Monument, New Mexico, as now or as may be hereafter defined, by accepting from the owners of such alienated lands complete relinquishment thereof Exchange for, of public lands.and by granting and patenting to the owners, in exchange therefor, surveyed, nonmineral, and unreserved public lands of equal quality and acreage or of equal value as may be agreed upon situated elsewhere in the State of New Mexico, after due notice of the proposed exchange has been given by publication for not less than thirty days in the counties where the lands proposed to be exchanged 1166*Provisos*.Grazing, etc., lands to be designated.or taken in exchange are located: *Provided*, That the Secretary of the Interior shall, on application or otherwise, designate public lands subject to exchange under this Act which are, in his opinion, chiefly valuable for grazing and raising forage crops, do not contain merchantable timber, are not susceptible of irrigation from any known source of water supply, are not embraced in a valid claim, and are of quality similar to the alienated lands offered in Driving stock across.exchange: *And provided further*, That any owner of patented lands in the monument now owning other lands adjoining said monument, which may be separated by the acquisition of land in the monument by the United States under the provisions hereof, shall be, and is hereby, authorized to drive stock across said monument at an accessible location, which may be approved by the Secretary of the Interior, which right shall also accrue to any successor in interest to said adjoining lands, or to any lessee of such lands.
Sec. 2. Value, title, etc., of lands offered. That the value of all patented lands within said monument offered for exchange, and the value of the lands of the United States to be given in exchange therefor, shall be ascertained in such manner as the Secretary of the Interior may direct; and the owners of such alienated lands within said monument shall, before any exchange is effective, furnish the Secretary of the Interior evidence satisfactory to him of title to the patented lands offered in exchange;
Added to National Monument.and lands conveyed to the United States under this Act shall be and remain a part of the Chaco Canyon National Monument. Sec. 3. University of New Mexico, etc.Lands of, may be conveyed with reservation. That in the acquisition on behalf of the United States under authority of law of any of the following-described land, to wit: Section 13, in township 21 north, range 11 west; section 17, in township 21 north, range 10 west; section 21, in township 21 north, range 10 west; section 3, in township 21 north, range 11 west; and section 11, in township 21 north, range 11 west, owned by the University of New Mexico, the Museum of New Mexico, and/or the School of American Research, the said Secretary may accept title thereto subject to such reservations by the grantor or grantors as will enable the said University of New Mexico, the Museum of New Mexico, and/or the School of American Research *Provisos*.Use restricted.to continue scientific research thereon: *Provided*, That such use shall not interfere with the administration of said area for Other lands in exchange.national-monument purposes: *And provided further*, That upon relinquishment to the United States of any of the rights reserved by any grantor pursuant hereto the Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion, grant the right to said University of New Mexico, the Museum of New Mexico, and/or the School of American Research similar rights with reference to other ruins and locations within said monument in lieu thereof.
Approved, February 17, 1931.