16 U.S.C. § 525 (2024)
This is the official text of 16 U.S.C. § 525 (2024), part of Federal (US Code)’s United States Code — the codified general and permanent federal statutes of the United States, organized into more than 50 numbered titles by subject.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Rights-of-way for wagon roads or railroads
Official statutory text
In the form provided by existing law the Secretary of the Interior may file and approve surveys and plats of any right of way for a wagon road, railroad, or other highway over and across any national forest when in his judgment the public interests will not be injuriously affected thereby.
(Mar. 3, 1899, ch. 427, §1, 30 Stat. 1233.)
Editorial Notes
Codification
As originally enacted, this section contained following the word "forest" the words "or reservoir site". See sections 665 and 958 of Title 43, Public Lands, which represent the phase of the section here omitted.
"National forest" substituted in text for "forest reserve" on authority of act Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, 34 Stat. 1269, which provided that forest reserves shall hereafter be known as national forests.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Repeal; Savings Provision
Section repealed by Pub. L. 94–579, title VII, §706(a), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2793, effective on and after Oct. 21, 1976, insofar as applicable to the issuance of rights-of-way over, upon, under, and through the public lands and lands in the National Forest System. Such repeal not to be construed as terminating any valid lease, permit, patent, etc., existing on Oct. 21, 1976, see section 701 of Pub. L. 94–579, set out as a note under section 1701 of Title 43, Public Lands.
(Mar. 3, 1899, ch. 427, §1, 30 Stat. 1233.)
Editorial Notes
Codification
As originally enacted, this section contained following the word "forest" the words "or reservoir site". See sections 665 and 958 of Title 43, Public Lands, which represent the phase of the section here omitted.
"National forest" substituted in text for "forest reserve" on authority of act Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, 34 Stat. 1269, which provided that forest reserves shall hereafter be known as national forests.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Repeal; Savings Provision
Section repealed by Pub. L. 94–579, title VII, §706(a), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2793, effective on and after Oct. 21, 1976, insofar as applicable to the issuance of rights-of-way over, upon, under, and through the public lands and lands in the National Forest System. Such repeal not to be construed as terminating any valid lease, permit, patent, etc., existing on Oct. 21, 1976, see section 701 of Pub. L. 94–579, set out as a note under section 1701 of Title 43, Public Lands.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Federal (US Code)?
Find a Federal (US Code) lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.