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Title 43, Public LandsRelease 119-102

§59 Official Papers in Office of Surveyor General in California; Copies

Title 43 › CHAPTER 3 — SURVEYS › § 59

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior, or someone he appoints, must keep all records, books, papers, seals, and similar items from the Surveyor General of California safe in the Interior Department archives until the law allows otherwise. Copies that he or his appointee certifies and seals count as evidence the same as the originals.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §59

Public Lands, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

All official books, papers, instruments of writing, documents, archives, official seals, stamps, or dies, which have been authorized by law to be collected and deposited in the surveyor general’s office in California, shall be safely and securely kept by the Secretary of the Interior, or such officer as he may designate, in the archives of his office until disposed of as provided by law; and copies thereof, authenticated by the Secretary or such officer under his seal of office, shall be evidence in all cases where the originals would be evidence.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification R.S. § 2229 derived from act May 18, 1858, ch. 39, § 1, 11 Stat. 289.

Amendments

1951—Act Oct. 25, 1951, inserted “until disposed of as provided by law”. Statutory Notes and

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For

Transfer of Functions

of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1262, set out under section 1451 of this title. “Secretary of the Interior or such officer as he may designate” substituted for “Supervisor of Surveys” on authority on section 403 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1946. See note set out under section 1 of this title. Previously, “Supervisor of Surveys” was substituted for “surveyor general” by act Mar. 3, 1925.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 59

Title 43, Public Lands

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102