An Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire certain additional property to be included within the Independence National Historical Park
PL 86-54 (H.R.2154), enacted 06/23/1959

PUBLIC LAW 86-53-JUNE 23, 1959 
[73 ST A T , 
Public Law 86-53 
June 23, 1959 
[H. R. 1711] 
G a Iv 
Houston 
derson R 
Bridge. 
e s t o n, 
and Hen-
.R. Co. 
AN ACT 
For the relief of the Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad Company. 
Be it enacted hy the Seriate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary 
of the Treasury is authorized and directed to pay, out of any money in 
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated to Galveston, Houston and 
Henderson Railroad Company the sum of $38,726.40. The payment 
of such sum shall be in full settlement of all claims of the said 
(jalveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad Company against the 
United States for reimbursement for actual expenses borne by Galves-
ton, Houston and Henderson Railroad Company for alteration of 
its bridge 5.4 over Brays Bayou in Houston, Harris County, Texas, 
which alteration was made in connection with the improvement of 
Brays Bayou for flood-control purposes and for which amount the 
said Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad Company has not 
otherwise been reimbursed, and if Galveston, Houston and Henderson 
Railroad Company had not made such bridge alteration, such altera-
tion would have been made subsequently at the expense of the United 
States as a part of its flood-control project which included the im-
provement of Brays Bayou, and such bridge alteration inured to the 
benefit of the United States in subsequently carrying out such flood-
control project which it approved and authorized: Provided, 
No 
part of the amount appropriated in this Act shall be paid or delivered 
to or received by any agent or attorney on account of services rendered 
in connection with this claim and the same shall be unlawful any 
contract to the contrary notwithstanding. Any persons violating the 
provisions of this Act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and 
upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding 
$1,000. 
Approved June 23, 1959. 
June 23, 1959 
[H. R. 2154f 
Public Law 86-54 
AN ACT 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire certain additional prop-
erty to be included within the Independence National Historical Park. 
I n d e p e n d enc e 
National H i s t o r -
ical Park. 
Appropriation. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate atid House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress asseinhled, That the Secretary 
of the Interior is authorized to acquire by donation or with donated 
funds, or to acquire by purchase, the land and buildings immediately 
adjacent to, but not including, the St. George's Methodist Church 
property, which land and buildings are identified generally as 318, 
320, and 322 New Street, for inclusion in the Independence National 
Historical Park: Provided, That the Secretary shall first enter into 
an agreement with the proprietor or proprietors of the St. George's 
Methodist Church property, such agreement to contain the usual 
and customary provisions for the protection and physical mainte-
nance of said church property, without expense to the United States, 
in keeping with, but not as a part of, the nearby Independence 
National Historical Park and providing for its continued use, with-
out limitation or control, for customary church purposes. 
SEC. 2. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums, 
not exceeding $25,000, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes 
of section 1 of this Act. 
Approved June 23, 1959.