50

1053
1954
4547

WAR DEPARTMENT

11302 WASHINGTON

April 18, 1906

Dear Sir:

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 23d ultimo, inclosing correspondence in relation to an inquiry from Mr. Dan J. Maher, Clerk of the Port of Portland Commission, Portland, Oregon, relative to the status of certain land known as the Light House Reservation at Yaquina Bay, Oregon.

Replying thereto I beg to inform you that this reservation, comprising about thirty-six acres, was, by authority of the Secretary of the Treasury dated October 24, 1888, transferred by the Light House Board to the engineer officer in charge of the improvement of Yaquina Bay for temporary use of the War Department, with the understanding that when no longer used by the said Department, or whenever required by the Board, the reservation and buildings should revert to the care of the Light House Establishment.

As it appears fronm a report of the local engineer officer, Major Roessler, that the improvement of Yaquina Bay has been discontinued, the Department of Commerce and Labor has been informed that as the War Department has no present use for the reservation, there is no objection to the Light House Establishment assuming possession and control thereof.

All the papers in the case have been transmitted to the Department of Commerce and Labor, and Mr. Maher should be advised to correspond with the Department regarding further disposition of the property.

Very respectfully,
Robert Shaw Oliver.
Assistant Secretary of War.

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