Miss. Code Ann. § 55-13-3

Whereas the United States government is about to undertake the construction of the Natchez Trace, which will be a highway in the State of Mississippi, and have in conjunction therewith a parkway, which highway will extend through the State of Mississippi for approximately three hundred miles and will entail an expenditure on the part of the federal government of not less than twelve million dollars ($12,000,000.00) provided that the United States government is supplied by the state or counties through which said Natchez Trace highway and parkway extends free rights-of-way, together with certain scenic easements along said right-of-way and parkway, the State Highway Commission of the State of Mississippi is hereby authorized and empowered to make use out of any available funds which it may have on hand or obtain such moneys as may be necessary for the purchase of lands and lease scenic easements for the Natchez Trace Parkway in the State of Mississippi or any other United States parkway project in the State of Mississippi which may be undertaken by the United States government. Said lands, when obtained by the state highway department either through purchase, gift or otherwise, may be given free to the United States or some of its subsidiary subdivisions on such terms and conditions as the United States government may demand and the State of Mississippi accede to.