---
kind: "range"
citation: "16 U.S.C. §§ 51–54"
title: "16"
from: "51"
to: "54"
count: 4
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/51..54"
---

# §51. Yosemite National Park; exchange of privately owned lands in park


The [Secretaries](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Departments of Interior and Agriculture, for the purpose of eliminating private holdings within the Yosemite [National Park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5) and to [preserve](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=7) intact timber along and adjoining the roads in the scenic portion of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) on patented lands, are empowered in their discretion to obtain and accept for the United States a complete title to any and all patented lands within the boundaries of said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) by the exchange of timber or timber and lands within the Yosemite [National Park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5) and the Sierra and Stanislaus [National Forests](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3) for such lands and the timber thereon within the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), necessary conveyances of [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) and [national forest](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3) timber or timber and lands to be made by said [secretaries](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), respectively. The [secretaries](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the said departments are authorized to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) title in fee by the exchange of lands of the United States for patented lands not exceeding six hundred and forty acres in the Sierra and Stanislaus [National Forests](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3), adjacent and contiguous to the Yosemite [National Park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5), and when such patented lands are thus acquired, said lands shall become a part of the Yosemite [National Park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5) and be subject to all the provisions of sections [55](/usc/16/55.md), [61](/usc/16/61.md), [471c](/usc/16/471c.md) and [471d](/usc/16/471d.md) of this title.


# §52. Values of lands and timber to be exchanged; lands added to park


The value of patented lands within the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) offered in exchange, and the value of the timber on [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) lands proposed to be given in exchange for such patented lands, shall be ascertained in such manner as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior may, in his discretion, direct, and all expenses incident to ascertaining such values shall be paid by the [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) of said patented lands, and such [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) shall, before any exchange is effective, furnish the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior evidence satisfactory to him of title to the patented lands offered in exchange, and if the value of the timber on [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) lands exceeds the value of the patented lands deeded to the Government in the exchange such excess shall be paid to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior by the [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) of the patented lands before any of the timber is removed from the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), and shall be deposited and covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. The same course shall be pursued in relation to exchange for timber standing near public roads on patented lands for timber to be exchanged on [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) lands. The lands conveyed to the Government under [section 51 of this title](/usc/16/51.md) shall become a part of the Yosemite [National Park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5).


# §53. Cutting and removal of timber


All timber must be cut and removed from the Yosemite [National Park](/usc/16/410hhh–1.md?p=5) under regulations to be prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior, and any damage which may result to the roads or any part of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) in consequence of the cutting and removal of the timber from the reservation shall be borne by the [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) of the patented lands, and bond satisfactory to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior must be given for the payment of such damages, if any, as shall be determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior.


# §54. Sale of matured, dead, or down timber


The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior may sell and permit the removal of such matured or dead or down timber as he may deem necessary or advisable for the protection or improvement of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), and the proceeds derived therefrom shall be deposited and covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.