§571 — Title 43 Public Lands | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior can appraise and sell at public auction unplatted parts of Government town sites created under the Act of April 16, 1906, if they are on irrigation projects under the Act of June 17, 1902 (or related laws). He can set payment terms up to five years. Land not sold at auction may later be sold privately for at least the appraised value under the Secretary’s rules. A patent from such a sale gives the buyer full U.S. title to the land.

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.

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”.

§571 Sale of Unplatted Portions of Government Town Sites; Authorization