Public Law 69–382

That when title to lands within the area hereinafter referred to shall have been vested in the United States in fee simple, there shall be, and there is hereby, established, dedicated, and set apart as a public park for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, the tract of land in the Mammoth Cave region in the State of Kentucky, being approximately

Description.

seventy thousand six hundred and eighteen acres, recommended as a National Park by the Southern Appalachian National Park Commission to the Secretary of the Interior, in its report of April 8, 1926, and made under authority of the Act of February 21, 1925;

Vol. 43, p. 958.

which area, or any part or parts thereof as may be accepted on behalf of the United States in accordance with the provisions hereof, shall be known as the Mammoth Cave National Park: Provided,

Proviso.

Lands to be secured only by donation.

That the United States shall not purchase by appropriation of public moneys any land within the aforesaid area, but such lands shall be secured by the United States only by public or private donation.

Sec. 2.

The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized, in his

Acceptance of title to lands conveyed, authorized.

discretion, to accept, as hereinafter provided, on behalf of the United States, title to the lands referred to in the previous section hereof, and to be purchased with the funds which may be subscribed by or through the Mammoth Cave National Park Association of Kentucky, and with other contributions for the purchase of lands in the Mammoth Cave National Park area: Provided, That any of said lands

Proviso.

Direct conveyance accepted.

may be donated directly to the United States and conveyed to it, cost free, by fee-simple title, in eases where such donations may be made without the necessity of purchase.

Sec. 3.

The administration, protection, and development of the aforesaid park shall be exercised under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior by the National Park Service, subject to the

Vol. 39, p. 535.

provisions of the. Act of August 25, 1916, entitled “An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes,” as amended:

Provisos.

Water power Act not applicable.

Vol. 41, p. 1063.

Provided, That the provisions of the Act approved June 10, 1920, known as the Federal Water Power Act, shall not apply to this

Minimum area specified.

park: And provided further, That the minimum area to Ge administered and protected by the National Park Service shall be, for the said Mammoth Cave National Park, twenty thousand acres,

Area to be accepted before any development made.

including all of the caves: Provided, further, That no general development of said area shall be undertaken until a major portion of the remainder in such area shall have been accepted by said Secretary.

Sec. 4.

The Secretary of the Interior may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, employ the commission authorized by the Act approved February 21, 1925,