acres thereof, namely, the W. SE. sec. 10, T. 2 N., R. 3 E., are within power-site reserve No. 379, reserved by Executive order of July 1, 1913, the remainder of the lands being unwithdrawn, unappropriated, generally mountainous, and better adapted to grazing than other purposes. I am without information regarding the necessity for the proposed legislation. The Forester has advised the Commissioner of the General Land Office that the consolidation proposed will result in a more efficient and economical administration of the national forest. While generally opposed to lieu-selection legislation of this character, I am not sufficiently informed as to the merits of the exchange proposed to make a specific recommendation. Land withdrawn for power-site purposes is not subject to selection, and I would therefore suggest that the bill be amended to omit the 80-acre tract above described so withdrawn, lines 12 and 13, page 2 of the bill. I would suggest a reference of the bill to the Secretary of Agriculture, as the administration of the national forest is under his jurisdiction. Very truly, yours, Hon. HENRY L. MYERS, Chairman Committee on Public Lands, United States Senate. DEAR SENATOR MYERS: Receipt is acknowledged of a copy of the bill (S. 6378) to consolidate certain forest lands within the Cache National Forest, Utah, with the request that your committee be sent such suggestions as this department may offer. The bill proposes that the Secretary of the Interior be authorized, in his discretion, to accept title to certain described lands, either in whole or in part, upon certification by the Secretary of Agriculture that the lands are chiefly valuable for national forest purposes and approximately equal in value to the lands to be given in exchange therefor. Within the boundaries of the Cache and other national forests there are many tracts of potential forest land in private ownership. These were acquired under the timber and stone act and other public-land laws prior to the time the national forests were established. Because they are unsuited for homebuilding purposes, they are unoc cupied. In their unprotected state they frequently present a fire menace to the timber on the lands of the Government, with which they intermingle. Quite frequently. also, they are located at strategic points, and because of their situation embarrass the Government officers in the administration of certain logical administrative units. Wherever they occur there is no doubt that the consolidation of the Government holdings would work toward economy and simplicity of administration of those units. It has been the uniform practice of the department to approve measures referred here for report where they proposed exchanges for the purpose of consolidating forest lands upon the basis of equal value. The bill now before me embodies that principle. As written, this bill would enable the department to have such scattered private holdings which are valuable for timber production or watershed protection added to the National Forest. It would be distinctly in the interest of economy and efficiency, and would make for the best and most productive use of all the lands involved. This department believes therefore that the interests of the Government are amply protected and recommends that the bill be favorably considered by your committee. It is learned informally from the General Land Office that the W. NE. 1, sec. 10, T. 2 N., R. 3 E., which is desired by Conrad L. Anhler in lieu of the lands he is to convey to the Government, is covered by a power site withdrawal. This is a matter, however, which can be considered before the exchange authorized to be made is consummated. Should it be found that the area is valuable for water power development, the exchange will not be made. Very truly, yours, C. F. MARVIN, O Mr. SMOOт, from the Committee on Public Lands, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 6381.] The Committee on Public Lands, to which was referred the bill (S. 6381) to consolidate certain forest lands within the Sevier National Forest, having had the same under consideration, begs leave to report it back to the Senate with the following amendments: Page 1, line 10, strike out the word "east" at the beginning of the line and insert in lieu thereof the word "west." Page 2, line 9, strike out the word "southeast" where it is written the first time and insert in lieu thereof the word "southwest." As thus amended the committee recommends that the bill do pass. The views of the Secretary of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture with respect to said bill are contained in letters addressed to Hon. Henry L. Myers, chairman Committee on Public Lands, United States Senate, and are hereto appended and made a part of this report. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Hon. HENRY L. MYERS, Chairman Committee on Public Lands, United States Senate. MY DEAR SENATOR: I am in receipt of your request for report on S. 6381, authorizing the consolidation of certain lands in the Sevier National Forest, Utah, through exchange. The records of the General Land Office show that the areas which may be reconveyed to the United States by Messrs. Heaton & Sons Co., under the provisions of the bill, are within the exterior boundaries of the national forest, have a total area of 880 acres, and that two of the tracts described, namely, NE. † NE. †, sec. 26, T. 38 S., R. 7 W., and SE. SE. sec. 11, T. 39 S, R. 7 W., are unappropriated and public. It is therefore presumed that the NW. NE. of said sec. 26 and the SW. SE. † of said sec. 11, which have been approved to the State, were intended. With the exception of the two 40-acre tracts mentioned, the lands described in the bill have been either certified to the State under selections made under section 12 of the act of July 16, 1894 (28 Stat., 107), or patented under the homestead law. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to designate lands within the national forest of approximately equal value which may be selected in exchange for the lands reconveyed, and makes an appropriation to cover the expense of the necessary examinations. I am without information regarding the necessity for the proposed legislation. The Forester has advised the Commissioner of the General Land Office that the consolidation will result in a more efficient and economical administration of the national forest. While generally opposed to lieu selection legislation, I am not sufficiently informed as to the merits of the proposed exchange to make a specific recommendation. As the administration of the national forest is under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture and as the lands proposed to be reconveyed and those which may be selected in lieu thereof are within the national forest, I would suggest a reference of the bill to the Secretary of Agriculture for report. Very truly, yours, Hon. HENRY L. MYERS, Chairman Committee on Public Lands, FRANKLIN K. LANE, Secretary. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, July 10, 1916. United States Senate. DEAR SENATOR MYERS: Receipt is acknowledged of a copy of the bill (S. 6381) to consolidate certain forest lands within the Sevier National Forest, Utah, with the request that your committee be sent such suggestions as this department may offer. The bill proposes that the Secretary of the Interior be authorized, in his discretion, to accept title to certain described lands, either in whole or in part, upon certification by the Secretary of Agriculture that the lands are chiefly valuable for national forest purposes and approximately equal in value to the lands to be given in exchange therefor. Within the boundaries of the Sevier and other national forests there are many tracts of potential forest land in private ownership. These were acquired under the timber and stone act and other public land laws prior to the time the national forests were established. Because they are unsuited for home-building purposes, they are unoccupied. In their unprotected state they frequently present a fire menace to the timber on the lands of the Government, with which they intermingle. Quite frequently, also, they are located at strategic points and because of their situation embarrass the Government officers in the administration of certain logical administrative units. Wherever they occur there is no doubt that the consolidation of the Government holdings would work toward economy and simplicity of administration of those units. It has been the uniform policy of the department to approve measures referred here for report where they proposed exchanges for the purpose of consolidating forest lands, upon the basis of equal value. The bill now before me embodies that principle. As written, this bill would enable the department to have such scattered private holdings which are valuable for timber production or watershed protection added to the national forest. It would be distinctly in the interest of economy and efficiency and would make for the best and most productive use of all the lands involved. This department believes, therefore, that the interests of the Government are amply protected and recommends that the bill be favorably considered by your committee. It is apparent that errors of description occur in line 10 of page 1 and line 9 of page 2. It is believed that the word "west" should be substituted for the word "east at the beginning of line 10 of page 1, and that the word "southwest" should be substituted for the word "southeast" where it is written the second time in line 9 of page 2. Very truly, yours, Mr. THOMAS, from the Committee on Public Lands, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 217.] The Committee on Public Lands, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 217) to authorize the sale of school property in the city of Denver, Colo., and for other purposes, having had the same under consideration, begs leave to report it back to the Senate with amend ments: Page 1, line 5, after the words "dispose of" insert the words “and to execute a deed of conveyance for." Page 2, line 12, at the end of the line add the following: And provided further, That before such sale the said block shall be appraised by a board composed of three members to be appointed by the District Court of the United States for the District of Colorado, upon petition therefor by the State superintendent of public instruction, which board shall duly report such appraisement, after the making thereof, to said court and there recorded; and no sale shall be made of said block and the improvements thereon for a sum less than the amount of such appraisement: And provided further, That such sale when made shall be approved by the said State superintendent of public instruction before any conveyance thereof shall be made and delivered. As thus amended the committee recommend that the bill do pass. The bill was referred to the Department of the Interior by the chairman of the Committee on the Public Lands of the House and the Secretary of the department furnished the committee with the following report thereon: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, MY DEAR MR. FERRIS: I am in receipt of your request for report upon H. R. 217, a bill to authorize the sale of school property in the city of Denver, Colo., and for other purposes. It appears that Congress, by act approved February 24, 1879 (20 Stat., 317), donated to the city of Denver, for school purposes, block No. 143, in the east division of the city, prescribing that there should be erected and maintained thereupon a public school building or buildings, under certain conditions as to use, etc., with the penalty of reversion in the event the city failed to comply with the terms of the act. It is now represented to the department that this particular parcel of land is no longer useful or available to the city in connection with its system of public schools, and that the board of education desires authority which will permit it to dispose of the property and devote the proceeds to the purchase of land more suitably located and to the erection of school buildings thereon. The intent and purpose of the act having been to aid in the establishment of free public schools in the city of Denver, the department believes that that purpose would be better subserved, under present conditions, by the passage of this measure, which will permit of the acquirement of other lands better adapted to educational purposes. I have therefore to recommend the enactment of H. R. 217. Cordially, yours, Hon. SCOTT FERRIS, Chairman Committee on the Public Lands. FRANKLIN K. LANE, Secretary. House of Representatives. In 1879, when Denver was a small place, the Government, wishing to encourage education in the then comparatively new West, and having at its disposal vast areas of land, some of which comprised vacant blocks in the Denver town site, and of little value, placed what was designated as block 143 at the disposal of Denver and its proper school officials for school purposes. At that early date the remarkable growth and development of Denver, since recognized as splendid and marvelous, was not so patent to the Congress, and in consequence it was thought to be wise to provide that other use or attempted alienation of the bestowed block of land should cause the same to revert to the Government. In due time, and very early, considering the recent claim of Denver for a place in the sun, the city so increased in population, and educational matters received such favorable consideration, there was erected on this block one of the largest and best equipped high-school buildings in the whole country, and at an expense of more than $300,000. But the city continued to grow, and, as earlier in its history, the education of its youth was the chief concern. Not only were other and many school buildings erected to meet the demand of the increasing population, but as expressive of its devotion to the cause of education, the district has constructed at greater expense even better and more commodious high-school buildings. Block 143, when conditionally given to Denver for school purposes, was "far out." Then there were more residences between that block and the business center than there were beyond the block. Now the block is practically in the center of the city's activities, and is diagonally across the street from the new, handsome, and commodious marble Federal building. The high-school building, while still used for high-school purposes, is no longer well located. There is every reason for the establishment of this particular portion of Denver's schoot plant at a more favorable point. Denver, through its school authorities, its mayor, other public officials, women's clubs, and civic societies, unitedly desires to be in position to alienate the block of ground referred to in the bill and make use of the proceeds for purchase of other site or sites for school purposes. The bill amply protects the purpose of the Government in the limitation imposed in the original act, and your committee is impressed with the belief that to pass the bill would be in furtherance of the generous purposes of the Government. |