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PROVIDING FOR UNIFORM ADMINISTRATION OF NATIONAL PARKS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

JANUARY 13, 1931.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

Mr. COLTON, from the Committee on the Public Lands, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany S. 196]

The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred S 196 to provide for uniform administration of the national parks by the United States Department of the Interior, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon and recommend that it do pass without amendment.

This measure is recommended favorably in his letter of March 21, 1930, addressed to the chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, which also sets forth the facts concerning the proposed legislation. This letter is herein set forth for the information of the House.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Washington, March 21, 1930.

Hon. GERALD P. NYE,

Chairman Committee on Public Lands and Surveys,

United States Senate.

My DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: With further reference to your request of January 28 for a report on S. 196, to provide for uniform administration of national parks by the Department of the Interior, I transmit herewith a memorandum from the Director of the National Park Service. After a review of the proposed measure, I agree with Director Albright.

Very truly yours,

Memorandum for the Secretary.

RAY LYMAN WILBUR, Secretary.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE,
Washington, March 12, 1930.

Reference is made to letter dated January 28, from the chairman Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, United States Senate, inclosing copy of S. 196,

entitled "A bill to provide uniform administration of the national parks by the United States Department of the Interior, and for other purposes," with request for an opinion as to its merits.

The purpose of this bill with comments on the various sections thereof is given below:

Section 1 provides that no permits or other authorization shall be issued in the future for prospecting, development, or utilization of the mineral resources within Mesa Verde and Grand Canyon National Parks. Several coal-mining leases in Mesa Verde have been granted, but all mining thereunder has been abandoned as unprofitable and the leases canceled. No permits in Grand Canyon have been granted under the authority to be repealed by this act, and in 1926 the department definitely established the policy that mining operations in the park are not advisable and should not be permitted.

Section 2 would prohibit further locations of mining claims in Mount McKinley National Park, Alaska. The desirability of taking this action with reference to the whole of this park at this time has been carefully considered by this service and discussed with officials of the Geological Survey. It is felt that until more opportunity has been had to exploit the mineral possibilities on the west side of the park, the objects of this provision might be satisfactorily accomplished, from the standpoint of the administration of this area as a national park, by simply prohibiting the location of mining claims on the east side. The use of mining locations for purposes other than to extract the minerals, however, is undesirable and should not be permitted anywhere in the park. A satisfactory amendment of this section along the lines of the above may be accomplished as follows:

(1) Striking out the language beginning with "the area of" page 2, line 1. down through and including line 6.

(2) Inserting the following in lieu thereof: "That part of Mount McKinley National Park, in the Territory of Alaska, lying east of Stony Creek, Anderson Pass, the West Fork Glacier and the West Fork of the Chulitna River: Provided, however, That mineral locations in the park shall entitle the locator only to the minerals in the land and no surface rights, except such as are reasonably necessary to extract the same, may be acquired by virtue of such location.”

Section 3 provides that permits or other authorizations shall no longer be issued for summer homes in Glacier or Lassen Volcanic National Parks, except that those now outstanding may be renewed. There is no authority in law for the Secretary to issue such permits in his discretion, but for some time the policy has been only to renew those outstanding and not to issue new ones.

Section 4 prohibits the acquisition of rights of way for railroads or roads in Lassen Volcanic National Park under filings or proceedings under laws applicable to the acquisition of such rights over national forest lands. No applications have been granted under the authority sought to be repealed by this provision. Railroads in national parks are not desirable and should not be permitted therein. Section 5 prohibits acquisition of rights of way through the valleys of the North and Middle Forks of the Flathead River for railways in the Glacier National Park under laws applicable to the acquisition of such rights of way over the public domain. No rights of way have been granted under the authority to be repealed by this provision.

Section 6 repeals the provisions of the act of March 2, 1899, granting rights of way to railway or tramway companies for the purpose of building, constructing, and operating railway or tramway lines through or in the Mount Rainier National Park, but provides that the Secretary may authorize a tramway for the accommodation or convenience of visitors. This is all that may be justified in the park. No rights of way have been acquired under this authority.

Section 7 repeals the provisions of the act of January 26, 1915, authorizing the Secretary, in his discretion, to grant easements or rights of way for steam, electric, or similar transportation upon or across lands within Rocky Mountain National Park. No rights of way have been granted under this authority.

The provisions of this bill in general seek to repeal or amend existing provisions of national park laws which are inimical to the primary purposes for which these areas were set aside, so as to conform the laws to the established policies governing these areas. This service therefore is unequivocally in favor of the bill and recommends that it be favorably reported on by the department with request for amendment of section 2 thereof as indicated herein.

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3d Session

No. 2260

TO PROVIDE FOR THE RETENTION BY THE UNITED STATES OF A SITE WITHIN THE HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK FORMERLY OCCUPIED BY THE ARLINGTON HOTEL AND BATHHOUSE, FOR PARK AND LANDSCAPE PURPOSES

JANUARY 13, 1931.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

Mr. FULLER, from the Committee on the Public Lands, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 15867]

The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 15867) to provide for the retention by the United States of a site within the Hot Springs National Park formerly occupied by the Arlington Hotel and bathhouse, for park and landscape purposes, having considered the same, report it favorably to the House with the recommendation that it do pass without amendment.

The purpose of the proposed legislation is explained in its title. However, in a letter, inclosing a memorandum from the National Park Service, written by the Secretary of the Interior, under date of January 12, 1931, the reasons why the enactment of this bill is desirable are more fully explained. The letter and memorandum are herein set out in full and made a part of this report.

Hon. DoN B. COLTON,

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Washington, January 12, 1931.

Chairman Committee on the Public Lands,

House of Representatives.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In response to your request for a report on H. R. 15867, which is a bill to provide for the retention by the United States of a site within the Hot Springs National Park formerly occupied by the Arlington Hotel and bathhouse for park and landscape purposes, I transmit herewith a memorandum on the subject that has been submitted by Director Albright of the National Park Service.

After a review of the proposed measure, I agree with Mr. Albright.

Very truly yours,

RAY LYMAN WILBUR, Secretary.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Washington, January 12, 1981.

Memorandum for the Secretary.

Reference is made to letter dated January 9, 1931, from the chairman Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives, inclosing copy of H. R. 15867, entitled "A bill to provide for the retention by the United States of a site within the Hot Springs National Park formerly occupied by the Arlington Hotel and bathhouse for park and landscape purposes,' with request for report

thereon.

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The purpose of this proposed legislation is fully set forth in the title of the bill. When the old Arlington Hotel and bathhouse was destroyed by fire in 1923, and the new hotel built on private land across the road from the reservation, the decision was made by this service to keep the old site free and develop it as a park. This decision was based on two underlying reasons: First, because it had been found that the park is over-bathhoused and over-hotelled, and secondly, because of the need of some recreational space in the form of a park which might be landscaped to beautify this particular location. There is also a further reason; namely, the possibility of the use of this site in the future for a new park administration building which could be made to harmonize with the landscape and other purposes of the park.

While this site is still under lease with the Arlington Hotel Co., under which this service has arranged for landscape treatment of the area with a view to providing a breathing place in this congested area, this lease will expire on March 6, 1932, and it is very desirable that the site be kept free thereafter from additional hotel or bathhouse buildings.

I have to recommend that H. R. 15867 be given favorable consideration by the department and Congress. HORACE M. ALBRIGHT, Director.

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3d Session

No. 2261

SALE OF CHIPPEWA INDIAN LAND TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA

JANUARY 13, 1931.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. NOLAN, from the Committee on the Public Lands, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 15590]

The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 15590) providing for the sale of Chippewa Indian land to the State of Minnesota, having considered the same, report favorably thereon and recommend that it do pass without amendment.

Because of its very strategic position this tract of land, consisting of only 40 acres, is an absolute necessity for the proper protection of Itasca State Park, a forest reserve. The land is to be used as a firebreak trail and for the location of fire and game patrol headquarters. The Secretary of the Interior is favorable toward this proposed legislation, and his report is herein set out in full for the information of the House.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTErior,
Washington, January 13, 1981.

Hon. DoN B. COLTON,

Chairman Committee on the Public Lands,

House of Representatives.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In compliance with your request of January 7, for a report on H. R. 15590, which is a bill providing for the sale of Chippewa Indian land to the State of Minnesota, I transmit herewith a memorandum on the subject that has been submitted by Commissioner Moore, of the General Land Office. After a review of the proposed measure, I agree with Mr. Moore.

Very truly yours,

RAY LYMAN WILBUR, Secretary.

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