An Act authorizing the transfer of certain property of the Veterans Administration (in Johnson City, Tenn.) to the State of Tennessee
PL 83-56 (H.R.1561), enacted 06/06/1953

54 
PUBLIC LAW 56-JUNE 6, 1953 
[67 S T A T , 
(5) South twenty-two degrees forty-six minutes twenty seconds 
west one hundred seventy-four and fifty-eight one-hundredths 
feet to the point and place of beginning, containing approximately 
eighteen thousand square feet. 
The above described land, upon conveyance to the town of Morris-
town, shall thereupon cease to be a part of the Morristown National 
Historical Park. 
Approved June 6, 1963. 
is; 
une6, 1953 
R. 1561] 
Tennessee^ 
Conveyance. 
Use. 
U. S. reentry. 
Public Law 56 
CHAPTER 107 
AN ACT 
Authorizing the transfer of certain property of the Veterans' Administration (in 
Johnson City, Tennessee) to the State of Tennessee. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assemhled^ Tliat the Adminis-
trator of Veterans' Affairs be, and he is hereby, authorized to transfer 
to the State of Tennessee certain property of the Veterans' Administra-
tion situated in Johnson City, Tennessee, and described as follows: 
Approximately thirtj^ acres of land comprising the westerly portion 
of the Veterans Administration Center, the exact courses and dis-
tances of the perimeter of which shall be determined and approved by 
the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs. The State of Tennessee shall 
pay the cost of surveys as may be required by the Administrator of 
Veterans' Affairs in determining the required legal description. The 
land shall be conveyed together with all buildings, improvements 
thereon, and all appurtenances and utilities belonging or appertaining 
thereto, and the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs shall execute and 
deliver in the name of the United States in its behalf any and all 
contracts, conveyances, or other instruments as may be necessary to 
effectuate the said transfer: Provided^ That the State of Tennessee 
shall perpetuate and provide for the maintenance of the cemetery 
located on the property: Provided further. That there shall be reserved 
to the United States all minerals, including oil and gas, in the lands 
authorized for conveyance of this section. 
SEC. 2. Such conveyance shall contain a provision that said property 
shall be used primarily for training of the National Guard and for 
other military purposes, and that if the State of Tennessee shall cease 
to use the property so conveyed for the purposes intended, then title 
thereto shall immediately revert to the United States, and in addition, 
all improvements made by the State of Tennessee during its occupancy 
shall vest in the United States without payment of compensation 
therefor. 
SEC. 3. Such conveyance shall contain the further provision that 
whenever the Congress of the United States shall declare a state of war 
or other national emergency, or the President declares a state of emer-
gency to exist, and upon the determination by the Secretary of 
National Defense that the property so conveyed is useful or necessary 
for military, air, or naval purposes, or in the interest of national 
defense, the United States shall have the right, without obligation to 
make payment of any kind, to reenter upon the property and use the 
same or any part thereof, including any and all improvements made by 
the State of Tennessee for the duration of such state of war or other 
national emergency and upon the cessation thereof plus six months 
said property is to revert to the State of Tennessee: Provided^ however^ 
That the United States shall have no obligation to restore the property 
in any way. 
Approved June 6, 1953.