§100 — Title 50 War and National Defense | U.S. Code

Summary

The President may study and set up plants to make nitrates and other products needed for war and for fertilizers. He can use water power or any other power he decides is cheapest and best. He can pick sites on rivers (navigable or not) or on public land and make them for the exclusive use of the United States. He may build dams, locks, powerhouses, and other equipment needed to generate power and make those products. He can lease, buy, or take by condemnation, gift, grant, or devise any land or rights needed. He can also take or buy materials, minerals, and processes, even if they are patented. The President will use the products for military and naval needs and may sell any surplus under rules he sets. He may hire officers, agents, or agencies to carry out these duties. The plants must be built and run only by the Government and not by private businesses.

Title 50, §100

War and National Defense — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The President of the United States may make, or cause to be made, such investigation as in his judgment is necessary to determine the best, cheapest, and most available means for the production of nitrates and other products for munitions of war and useful in the manufacture of fertilizers and other useful products by water power or any other power as in his judgment is the best and cheapest to use; and is also authorized to designate for the exclusive use of the United States, if in his judgment such means is best and cheapest, such site or sites, upon any navigable or nonnavigable river or rivers or upon the public lands, as in his opinion will be necessary for national defense; and is further authorized to construct, maintain, and operate, at or on any site or sites so designated, dams, locks, improvements to navigation, power houses, and other plants and equipment or other means than water power as in his judgment is the best and cheapest, necessary or convenient for the generation of electrical or other power and for the production of nitrates or other products needed for munitions of war and useful in the manufacture of fertilizers and other useful products.

(b)The President is authorized to lease, buy, or acquire, by condemnation, gift, grant, or devise, such lands and rights of way as may be necessary for the construction and operation of such plants and to take from any lands of the United States, or to buy or acquire by condemnation materials, minerals, and processes, patented or otherwise, necessary for the construction and operation of such plants and for the manufacture of such products.

(c)The products of such plants shall be used by the President for military and naval purposes to the extent that he may deem necessary, and any surplus which he shall determine is not required shall be sold and disposed of by him under such regulations as he may prescribe.

(d)The President is authorized to employ such officers, agents, or agencies as may in his discretion be necessary to enable him to carry out the purposes herein specified, and to authorize and require such officers, agents, or agencies to perform any and all of the duties imposed upon him by the provisions hereof.

(e)The plant or plants provided for under this section shall be constructed and operated solely by the Government and not in conjunction with any other industry or enterprise carried on by private capital.

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was not enacted as part of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act which comprises this subchapter.

§100 Nitrate Plants

Summary

Title 50, §100

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

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