38TH CONGRESS.
1ST SESSION.
S. 203.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
МARCH 28, 1864.
Mr. Conness asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to bring in the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.
MAY 17, 1861.
Reported by Mr. Foor without amendment, considered as in Committee of the Whole, reported to the Senate, read a third time and passed, and ordered to be printed.
A BILL
Authorizing a grant to the State of California of the "Yosemite valley," and of the land embracing the Mariposa Big Tree Grove."
1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa
2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
3 That there shall be, and is hereby, granted to the State of
4 California the "cleft" or "gorge" in the granite peak of the
5 Sierra Nevada mountains, situated in the county of Mariposa,
6 in the State aforesaid, and the head waters of the Merced
7 river, and known as the Yosemite valley, with its branches
8 or spurs, in estimated length fifteen miles, and in average
9 width one mile back from the main edge of the precipice, on
10 each side of the valley, with the stipulation, nevertheless,
11 that the State shall accept this grant upon the express condi-
12 tions that the premises shall be held for public use, resort,
11 and recreation; shall be inalienable for all time; but leases
12 not exceeding ten years may be granted for portions of said
13 premises. All incomes derived from leases of privileges to
14 be expended in the preservation and improvement of the
15 property, or the roads leading thereto; the boundaries to be
16 established at the cost of said State by the United States
17 surveyor general of California, whose official plat, when
18 affirmed by the Commissioner of the General Land Office,
19 shall constitute the evidence of the locus, extent, and limits
20 of the said cleft or gorge; and the premises to be managed
21 by the governor of the State with eight other commissioners,
22 to be appointed by the executive of California, and who shall
23 receive no compensation for their services.
1 SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That there shall like
2 wise be, and there is hereby, granted to the said State of
3 California the tracts embracing what is known as the "Mari
4 posa Big Tree Grove," not to exceed the area of four sections,
5 and to be taken in legal sub-divisions of one quarter section
6 each, with the like stipulation as expressed in the first section
7 of this act as to the State's acceptance, with like conditions
8 as in the first section of this act as to inalienability-yet,
9 with same lease privilege-the income to be expended in
10 preservation, improvement, and protection of the property;
11 the premises to be managed by commissioners as stipulated in
12 the first section, and to be taken in legal sub-divisions as
13 aforesaid; and the official plat of the United States surveyor
14 general, when affirmed by the Commissioner of the General
15 Land Office, to be the evidence of the locus of the said
16 Mariposa Big Tree Grove.
