43 USC § 59 - Official papers in office of surveyor general in California; copies

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t43/s59"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "43 USC § 59 - Official papers in office of surveyor general in California; copies"
title_number: 43
title_name: "PUBLIC LANDS"
section_number: "59"
section_name: "Official papers in office of surveyor general in California; copies"
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. § 2229; Mar. 3, 1925, ch. 462, 43 Stat. 1144; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, § 403, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7876, 60 Stat. 1100; Oct. 25, 1951, ch. 562, § 3(3), 65 Stat. 639.)"
---


# § 59. Official papers in office of surveyor general in California; copies

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.

---

**Source Credit**: (R.S. § 2229; Mar. 3, 1925, ch. 462, 43 Stat. 1144; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, § 403, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7876, 60 Stat. 1100; Oct. 25, 1951, ch. 562, § 3(3), 65 Stat. 639.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

R.S. § 2229 derived from , .

### Amendments

1951—Act , 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. , 15 F.R. 3174, , set out under .

“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 .

Previously, “Supervisor of Surveys” was substituted for “surveyor general” by act .