Correspondence of LH board 1901-1910

[Stamped] LIGHT HOUSE BOARD 1053 APR 15 1907 Ent'd APR 15 190

Department of Commerce and Labor OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Washington

Sir:

This Department has the honor to state in reply to your letter dated April 6, 1907, relative to the old light-house reservation at Yaquina Bay, Oregon, that the site was transferred to the War Department on October 24, 1888, and that upon receipt of the information contained in several endorsements by that Department upon a letter from Senator Gearin, dated March 23, 1906, to the effect that the War Deparment had no further use for the site, the Light-House Board reassumed its control.

On May 12, 1906, the reservation was transferred to the Treasury Department for the use of the Life Saving Service, subject to the future needs of the Light-House Establishment.

This Department also states that the Light-House Board, after a careful examination of the locality and consideration of the possibility of the need to establish additional aids to navigation in the near future upon the reservation, is of the opinion that it is not advisable either to sell or lease the reservation, and in that opinion this Department concurs.

I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, [signature] Secretary.

Hon. Jonathan Bourne, The Shoreham, Washington, D.C.

[Stamped] LIGHT HOUSE BOARD 1053 Received. APR 25 1906 April 24, 1906.

Department of Commerce and Labor OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Washington

One enclosure

[Stamped] Ent'd APR 22 1906

Hon. J.M. Gearin, United States Senate.

Sir:

This Department has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of April 20, 1906, enclosing papers stating that Mr. D.J. Maher wishes to lease or buy the lighthouse reservation at Yaquina Bay, Oregon, and asking for information relative to the matter.

In reply this Department begs to state that the Ligthhouse Board, to which this matter was referred, reports that is has sent these papers to its local officers at Portland, Oregon, for information as to whether this land is needed for lighthouse purposes. When an answer has been received the matter will again be considered, when you will be informed of the decision reached.

The War Department letter to yourself is returned herewith, as requested.

Respectfully,

[signature] Assistant Secretary.

FCR. File No. 1053.

May 2, 1907.

Sir: This Department has the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 27, 1907, relative to the request of Mr. B. F. Jones, of Independence, Oregon, for permission to use a portion of the Yaquina, Oregon, Light-House Reservation, upon which to erect a shoot-the-chutes, for the benefit of the summer visitors at the nearby resort. In reply this Department begs the state, at the instance of the Light-House Board, to whom this matter was referred, that it is not deemed advisable, in the interests of commerce, to either lease or sell my portion of the Yaquina, Oregon, Light-House Reservation, and if at any time in the future this Department should think it desirable to permit the use of this reservation by private parties, it would be done to the highest bidder, after due advertisement, as is customary in such cases. The state of Oregon, in the vicinity of the Yaquina Light-House Reservation, is rapidly settling up, the coastwise commerce is increasing, a coast line railway will probably be constructed in the near future, and local commerce will probably necessitate, sooner or later, the establishment of harbor lights upon the light-house reservation specified. In view of these facts, this Department does not find itself able to grant the request of Mr. B. F. Jones for hte use of the

before name light-house reservation. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obidient servant,

Assistant Secretary.

Hon. Jonathon Bourno, U. S. Senate, Washington, D. C.

RFM. File No. 1053. 1954.

May 1, 1907.

Sir: This Department has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of April 27, 1907, relative to leasing a portion of the Yaquina Bay, Oreg., Light-House Reservation to Mr. B. F. Jones, and begs the state that the matter is receiving immediate attention. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant,

Secretary.

Hon. Jonathon Bourne Jr., U. S. S., The Senate, Washington, D. C.