43 USC § 53 - Powers devolved on Secretary of the Interior on turning over of papers to States

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t43/s53"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "43 USC § 53 - Powers devolved on Secretary of the Interior on turning over of papers to States"
title_number: 43
title_name: "PUBLIC LANDS"
section_number: "53"
section_name: "Powers devolved on Secretary of the Interior on turning over of papers to States"
chapter_number: 3
chapter_name: "SURVEYS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(R.S. § 2219; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, § 403, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7876, 60 Stat. 1100.)"
---


# § 53. Powers devolved on Secretary of the Interior on turning over of papers to States

section 54 of this title

In all cases where, as provided in , the field notes, maps, records, and other papers appertaining to land titles in any State are turned over to the authorities of such State, the same authority, powers, and duties in relation to the survey, resurvey, or subdivision of the lands therein, and all matters and things connected therewith, as previously exercised by the surveyor general, whose district included such State, shall be vested in, and devolved upon, the Secretary of the Interior or such officer as he may designate.

---

**Source Credit**: (R.S. § 2219; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, § 403, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7876, 60 Stat. 1100.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

R.S. § 2219 derived from , .

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Surveyor General

Abolition of office of surveyor general, see note set out under .

## 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. , 15 F.R. 3174, , set out under .

“Secretary of the Interior or such officer as he may designate” substituted for “Commissioner of the General Land Office” on authority of section 403 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1946. See note set out under .