1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

of the Reservation for the purpose above stated, and reviewed the information contained in your letters, as well as those of the War Department. The Secretary of the Treasury on April 22nd, stated that under the permission granted May 12th, 1906, his Department obtained no title to the Reservation beyond the right to use and occupy the land for life saving purposes and for such purposes only. He stated, therefore, that he was without authority to grant the permission desired by Mr. Jones.

From the correspondence it would appear that the Reservation is strictly under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce and Labor, and if permission is to be given for the erection of a chute it must be given by you as head of that Department.

On April 12th, I telegraphed Mr. Jones as follows:

"In case government permit erection chute on Yaquina life saving reservation subject to their right to order removal at any time, would you care for it if it could be obtained. Cant promise success even under this condition, but would make additional effort if you desire."

I to day received a telegram from Mr. Jones to the effect that he would be glad to acquire the privilege on the condition named, and assured me that he would remove the chute at any time he was requested to do so by your Department.

From my personal knowledge of the locality, I can say that I believe no harm whatever would be done the Reservation if conditional permission was given Mr. Jones to occupy a portion of the beach with his chute. He desires to build the chute on the beach. The main portion of the Reservation, as I recall,

United States Senate Washington, D.C. April 6, 1907.

Hon. Lawrence O. Murray, Assistant Secretary, Department of Commerce and Labor.

Dear Sir:

On March 8th I received a letter from you in reply to a letter which I addressed to the Secretary on March 4th, asking that permission be granted Mr. B.F. Jones to use a part of the light-house reservation at Newport, Oregon. you then advised me that your Department had been informed by the Light-House Board that this reservation was transferred in 1888 to the War Department for its use until need by the Light-House Board, and, therefore, you were not able to grant the request.

I then took up the matter with the Secretary of War and today received a letter from Hon. Robert Oliver Shaw, Assistant Secretary, stating as follows:

"It appears from the report of the engineer authorities that there is some question as to whether or not this reservation is under the jurisdiction of the War Department or the Department of Commerce and Labor, and pending the solution of that question, the War Department does not feel at liberty to grant any privileges on the property."

I would be very greatly obliged if you would have the Light-House Board go into this question carefully and then decide whether or not the Newport Reservation is properly under your jurisdiction or that of the War Department. I have made a similar request of Secretary Oliver, and sincerely trust that some definite decision may be reached in the near future, as I am anxious that the application of Mr. Jones be passed upon at an early date. I assume that he would like to have this privilege

War Department, Office of the Chief of Engineers, Washington.

April 2, 1907

The Secretary of War.

Sir:

1. By authority of the Secretary of the Treasury, dated October 24, 1888, a reservation of about 36 acres was transferred by the Light-House Board to the officer in charge of the improvement of Yaquina Bay, Ore., for the temporary use of the War Department, with the understanding that when no longer used by that Department, or whether required by the Light-House Board, the reservation and buildings thereon should revert to the care of the Light-House Establishment.

2. The War Department has no further use for this reservation, and under date of April 17, 1906, this office reported to the Secretary of War the facts in the case, with recommendation that the Department of Commerce and Labor be informed that as the improvements of Yaquina Bay have been discontinued, there is no objection to the Light-House Establishment resuming possession and control of the reservation. What further action was taken is not known to this office.

3. Applications have been received by the War Department for privileges on this reservation, and the applicants have been referred to the Department of Commerce and Labor, who state that they have there been informed that the reservation is still under the control of the War Department. Inasmuch as there seems to be some doubt as to which Department is now in responsible charge of

Office of the Secretary, War Department, April 3, 1907 11302 5.

April 2, 1907

Chief of Engineers.

Suggests that matter of control or certain reservation in connection improvement of Yaquina Bay, be brot again to the attention of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor for information whether that Department has resumed control over the reservation, or will do so in the near future.

Received April 3, 1907 M.&R. Div. War Dept.

10 April, '07 Wrote Sec. of War giving status of L.H. Res. at Yaquina Bay, Ore.

Department of Commerce and Labor, Office of the Chief Clerk, Washington.

Entered April 6, 1907. Office of the Chief Clerk, Department of Commerce and Labor, Forwarded April 4, 1907 to the Light-House Board.

Chief of Bureau:

Please prepare a reply for the Secretary's Signature, returning the original letter to this office with the reply. By direction of the Secretary.

W.R. Blackford Acting Chief Clerk.

Office of the Secretary, War Department, April 3, 1907

11302 5.

April 2, 1907.

Chief of Engineers.

Suggests that matter of control of certain reservation in connection improvement of Yaquina Bay, be brot again to the attention of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor for information whether that Department has resumed control over the reservation, or will do so in the near future.

Received

April 3, 1907. M.&R. Div. War Dept.

10 April, '07 Wrote Sec. of War giving status of L.H. Res. at Yaquina Bay, Ore.

War Department, April 3, 1907.

Respectfully referred to the Honorable the Secretary, Department of Commerce and Labor with request for information as to whether the Department of Commerce and Labor has resumed control over the reservation in question, or will do so in the near future, attention being invited to pervious correspondence on the subject referred to within.

Signed--------------Robert Shaw Oliver Acting Secretary of War.

Office of the Chief Clerk, Department of Com. & Labor, Forwarded April 4, 1907 to Light-House Board. Indexed.