Title 43Public LandsRelease 119-73

§571 Sale of unplatted portions of Government town sites; authorization

Title 43 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XV— - TOWN SITES, PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, AND SCHOOL SITES › § 571

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior may appraise and sell at auction unplatted parts of Government town sites created under April 16, 1906, that are on irrigation projects under June 17, 1902. Payments can be spread out, but not for more than five years. Land that does not sell at auction may later be sold privately for at least the appraised value under the Secretary’s rules, and the sale deeds transfer U.S. title to the buyer.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §571

Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized, in his discretion, to appraise, and sell, at public auction, to the highest bidder, from time to time, under such terms as to time of payment as he may require, but in no event for any longer period than five years, any or all of the unplatted portions of Government town sites created under the Act of April 16, 1906 (34 Stat. 116), on any irrigation project constructed under the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388), or Acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto: Provided, That any land so offered for sale and not disposed of may afterwards be sold, at not less than the appraised value, at private sale, under such regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe. Patents made in pursuance of such sale shall convey all the right, title, and interest of the United States in or to the land so sold.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Act of
April 16, 1906, referred to in text, is act Apr. 16, 1906, ch. 1631, 34 Stat. 116, which enacted section 522, 561, 562, 566, and 567 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. Act of
June 17, 1902, referred to in text, is act
June 17, 1902, ch. 1093, 32 Stat. 388, popularly known as the Reclamation Act, which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 371 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1931—Act Feb. 14, 1931, substituted “under such terms as to time of payment as he may require, but in no event for any longer period than five years” for “for cash”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 571

Title 43Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73