288 



Sierra Club Bulletin. 



YosEMiTE Timber Lands. 

 AN ACT 



To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to secure for the 

 United States title to patented lands in the Yosemite National 

 Park, and for other purposes. 

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

 the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 

 Secretary of the Interior for the purpose of eHminating private 

 holdings within the Yosemite National Park and the preservation 

 intact of the natural timber along the roads in the scenic portions 

 of the park, both on patented and park lands, is hereby em- 

 powered, in his discretion, to obtain for the United States the 

 complete titfe to any or all of the lands held in private ownership 

 within the boundaries of said park, by the exchange of decayed 

 or matured timber, that can be removed from such parts of the 

 park as will not affect the scenic beauty thereof, for lands of equal 

 value held in private ownership therein, and also, in his discre- 

 tion, to exchange for timber standing near the public roads on 

 patented lands timber of equal value on park lands in other parts 

 of the park. 



Sec. 2. That the value of patented lands within the park 

 offered in exchange, and the value of the timber on park lands 

 proposed to be given in exchange for such patented lands, shall 

 be ascertained in such manner as the Secretary of the Interior 

 may, in his discretion, direct, and all expenses incident to ascer- 

 taining such values shall be paid by the owners of said patented 

 lands, and such owners 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, and if the value 

 of the timber on park lands exceeds the value of the patented 

 lands deeded to the Government in the exchange such excess 

 shall be paid to the Secretary of the Interior by the owners of 

 the patented lands before any of the timber is removed from the 

 park, and may be used by said Secretary in the management, im- 

 provement, and protection of the park. 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 

 lands : Provided, That the lands conveyed to the Government 

 under this act shall become a part of the Yosemite National Park. 



Sec. 3. That all timber must be cut and removed from the 

 park under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of the 

 Interior, and any damage which may result to the roads or any 

 part of the park in consequence of the cutting and removal of 

 the timber from the reservation shall be borne by the owners of 



