Whenever any portion of the public lands of the United States shall be entered at the proper land office as a townsite by the municipal authorities of any municipality, it shall be the duty of such municipal authorities to immediately select so much of said land for the use of said municipality as they shall deem necessary and proper for the purpose of public parks, public buildings, and public school buildings; provided, however, that they shall not select any lands settled upon and occupied as a townsite by individuals or corporations at the time of the entry of such townsite; provided further, that if at the time of such selection any of said lands are settled upon and occupied so as to entitle the claimant to a deed therefor, and the authorities deem it for the best interests of said municipality to obtain said parcels of land to complete their selection, or to have such selection in a compact form, the said municipal authorities are hereby authorized to pay a reasonable compensation for said lands so settled upon and occupied.

Source: SL 1895, ch 153, § 1; RPolC 1903, § 1591; repealed by omission RC 1919; re–enacted SL 1971, ch 69, § 18; SL 1992, ch 60, § 2.