Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§371 Use of free bathhouses limited

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XL— - HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK › § 371

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Only people who cannot pay for a bath and who have a health problem that bathing in Hot Springs water can help or cure may use the free bathhouse. Before bathing, they must swear to an official chosen by the park superintendent that they cannot pay. Lying on that oath is a misdemeanor punishable by a $25–$300 fine and up to 60 days in jail.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §371

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Only persons who are without and unable to obtain the means to pay for baths and are suffering from ailments for which bathing in the water of the Hot Springs National Park will afford relief or effect a cure shall be permitted to bathe at the free bathhouse on the public reservation at Hot Springs, Arkansas, and before any person shall be permitted to bathe at the free bathhouse on the reservation he shall be required to make oath, before such officer duly authorized to administer oaths for general purposes as the superintendent of the Hot Springs National Park shall designate, that he is without and unable to obtain the means to pay for baths, and any person desiring to bathe at the free bathhouse on the Hot Springs National Park making a false oath as to his financial condition shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not less than $25 nor more than $300 and be imprisoned for not more than sixty days.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1936—Act June 26, 1936, increased fine from not more than $25 to not less than $25 nor more than $300 and maximum prison term from not more than 30 days to not more than 60 days.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Hot Springs National Park” substituted in text for “Hot Springs Reservation” pursuant to act Mar. 4, 1921.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 371

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73