Crater Lake Historic Resource Study

APPENDIX F

Correspondence Relative to Withdrawal from
Settlement of Land Surrounding Crater Lake

THE PRESIDENT'S ORDER

A few minutes before 4 o'clock, Saturday evening, January 31, 1886, Secretary Lamar signed the recommendation to the President, for the withdrawal of the land surrounding Crater Lake, and sent it to the White House at once. However, it arrived after office hours and was not presented to the President until Monday morning, when it was among the first papers signed. The papers were as follows:

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Washington, Jan. 30, 1886.

Sir: In view of pending legislation looking to the creation of a public park from the lands of the United States surrounding and including Crater Lake, Oregon, I have the honor to recommend the temporary withdrawal from settlement or sale under the laws of the United States of the tract of land, surveyed and unsurveyed, comprising what is or would be townships 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31, in ranges 5 and 6 east of the Willamette Meridian, in the State of Oregon. Very respectfully.

To the President.

L.Q.C. LAMAR, Secretary.

On the back of this letter was written: "L.Q.C. Lamar, Secretary of the Interior, January 30, 1886, recommends temporary withdrawal of certain public lands in Oregon, pending legislation looking to the creation of a public park, which shall embrace Crater Lake."

Just below this appears the following order:

EXECUTIVE MANSION,
February 1, 1886.

Let the withdrawal be made as recommended.
GROVER CLEVELAND

Then follows action by the Land Department:

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Washington, Feb. 1, 1886.

The Commissioner of the General Land Office.

Sir: Herewith I transmit a copy of an executive order, bearing even date herewith, temporarily withdrawing certain public lands in Oregon, pending legislation looking to the creation of a public park, which shall embrace Crater Lake in said state. You will instruct the register and receiver of the proper local land office by telegraph, in accordance with this order.

Very respectfully,
G.A. JENKS, Assistant Secretary.

In pursuance of the foregoing order, the following telegram was sent:

Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 1886.

To U.S. Land Office, Roseburg, Or.

Register and Receiver: Withdraw from settlement and entry, land surveyed and unsurveyed, townships 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 south of ranges 5 and 6 east, Willamette Meridian. Instruction by mail.

WM. A.J. SPARKS, Commissioner.

From: Steel Points, v. 1, n. 2 (January 1907), pp. 73-74.