CORONADO INTERNATIONAL MONUMENT OCTOBER 3, 1940.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. MURDOCK of Arizona, from the Committee on the Public Lands submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 4130] The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (S. 4130) to provide for the establishment of the Coronado International Monument in the State of Arizona, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill do pass. The report of the Senate Public Lands and Surveys Committee is herein below set forth in full and made a part of this report. [H. Rept. No. 2107, 76th Cong., 3d sess.] The Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, to whom was referred the bill (S. 4130) to provide for the establishment of the Coronado International Monument, in the State of Arizona, having considered the same, report favorably thereon and recommend that the bill do pass with amendments as follows: On page 2, line 8, strike out the word "all" and insert in lieu thereof the words: "west half". On page 2, line 13, after the word "establishment", strike out the comma, and insert in lieu thereof a comma before the word "an". On page 2, line 23, strike out the period, insert a colon and the following: "Provided, That nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize any recreational or other development by the National Park Service within the sixty-foot strip north of the international boundary between the United States and Mexico withdrawn by proclamation of the President dated May 27, 1907 (35 Stat., pt. II, p. 3126)." On page 3, line 25, after the word "developed" insert the following: "or used". On page 4, line 3, strike out the period, add a colon and the following: "And provided further, That neither roads nor public campgrounds shall be constructed by the National Park Service within the south half southwest quarter of said section 10." The bill as amended is fully explained in the attached letters from the Acting Secretary of Agriculture and the Acting Secretary of the Interior, and in the material appended to them. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Hon. ALVA B. ADAMS, Washington, D. C., July 31, 1940. Chairman, Committee on Public Lands and Surveys. DEAR SENATOR ADAMS: Reference is made to your committee's request of June 15, for a report on S. 4130, a bill to provide for the establishment of the Coronado International Monument, in the State of Arizona. The bill authorizes the President to establish, by proclamation, the "Coronado International Monument," when he has been officially advised that the Government of Mexico has established, or provided for the establishment of, a similar and adjoining monument. The monument would be administered by the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior. Approximately 2,880 acres are described in the bill, which further provides that all or any part of the area may be included in said international monument. The land proposed for inclusion within the monument is adjacent to the Mexican border and is between the cities of Bisbee and Nogales, in Arizona, and is now a part of the Coronado National Forest. The major part of the described area is rough and mountainous, while the remainder consists of a flat, covered with a dense growth of live oak and other woodland species. The bill provides that grazing, prospecting, and mining will be permitted within the monument, when not in conflict with recreational and other public uses, and that existing rights will be fully protected and continued. The amendments to S. 4130, proposed by Senator Hayden on June 21 and referred to your committee, would be unobjectionable to the Department. The Department will interpose no objection to the enactment of this legislation. As required by Budget Circular 344, this matter was referred to the Bureau of the Budget, and under date of July 24, 1940, the Acting Director thereof advised this Department that there would be no objection to the submission of this report to the committee. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Further reference is made to the request of your committee for the views of this Department on S. 4130, entitled "A bill to provide for the establishment of the Coronado International Monument, in the State of Arizona." I recommend that S. 4130, if amended as hereafter indicated, be enacted. The purpose of this proposed legislation is the establishment of an area to be known as the Coronado International Monument in order to commemorate permanently the explorations of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. In my opinion, the establishment of an international monument, in accordance with the terms of the present bill, would be of great value in advancing the relationship of the United States and Mexico upon a friendly basis of cultural understanding. Such a monument would stress the history and problems of the two countries and would encourage cooperation for the advancement of their common interests. S. 4130 is in harmony with the proposal of the United States Coronado Exposition Commission for the establishment of a park or monument area on each side of the international boundary. There is attached, for your information, a copy of a letter signed by the members of the Commission and addressed to the Minister for Foreign Relations of the Republic of Mexico. The importance of Coronado's expedition already has been recognized by the Congress by virtue of the establishment of the Commission to represent the United States in connection with the holding of an exposition and celebration during the observance and commemoration of the four hundredth anniversary of the explorations of Coronado. Under the provisions of the bill, the establishment of the monument is conditional upon the establishment by the Government of Mexico of an area of similar, type and size adjoining the area to be established on the United States side of the border. The bill provides for prospecting and mining, the grazing of livestock, and related land uses of the area in conjunction with monument administration. The lands described in the bill comprise approximately 2,880 acres in the State of Arizona adjoining the international boundary. Practically all of the area is in Federal ownership, being a part of the Coronado National Forest. These lands are in the region of the San Pedro and Santa Cruz Rivers through which Coronado made his entrance from Mexico into what is now the United States. The area has been selected on the basis of a recent retracing of Coronado's route by a party of American historians. The area to be included in the Coronado International Monument is both rugged and scenic. To an observer standing at a spot in the area about a mile from the international boundary, a historic region extending from approximately 90 miles west of Nogales, Ariz., to the Animas Range about 50 miles distant in southwestern New Mexico, can be viewed. From a historical point of view, the proposed location of the international monument is logical. In appearance, the country is much like a vast relief map upon which portions of the route of Coronado, the areas of activities of mission-founding padres, historical routes of trade and travel to and from Mexico, and the scenes of marauding Indians may be observed. The Coronado expedition was one of the genuinely significant events in early North American history. It contributed largely to the history of both the United States and Mexico and thus deserves to be commemorated. There is attached a brief historical statement with regard to Coronado's expedition. It is contemplated that an important feature of the monument would be a museum and that a portion of the cost of the museum would be borne by the United States Coronado Exposition Commission out of funds which have been made available to that Commission. A portion of the area described in the bill is not desired for monument purposes. Accordingly, it is recommended that the bill be amended on page 2, line 8, by striking out the word "all" and substituting in lieu thereof "west half." I suggest that, on page 2, line 13, the comma after "establishment" be stricken and a comma be inserted before the word "an." I have been advised by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget that there would be no objection by that Bureau to the presentation of this report to the Congress. Sincerely yours, E. K. BURLEW, Acting Secretary of the Interior. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Hon. ALVA B. ADAMS, Chairman, Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, United States Senate. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Further reference is made to the request of your committee for the views of this Department on amendments intended to be proposed by Mr. Hayden to the bill (S. 4130) to provide for the establishment of the Coronado International Monument in the State of Arizona. I have no objection to the proposed amendments. The first proposed amendment would make a desirable correction in the land description of S. 4130. The second amendment is designed to bring the proposed legislation into harmony with the proclamation of the President, dated May 27, 1907 (35 Stat. 2136), which reserved a strip of land 60 feet wide lying along the boundary line between the United States and the Republic of Mexico from the operation of the public-land laws for the purpose of keeping the strip of land free from obstruction as a protection against the smuggling of goods between the United States and Mexico. The third amendment would clarify the language of the bill and, therefore, is not objectionable to this Department. The fourth amendment would prohibit the construction of roads and public camp grounds within a certain portion of the proposed Coronado International Monument. I have been advised by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget that there would be no objection by that Bureau to the presentation of this report to the Congress. Sincerely yours, E. K. BURLEW, Acting Secretary of the Interior. H. Repts., 76-3, vol. 6- -43 EXCELLENCY: As an important feature of the program observing and commemorating the four hundredth anniversary of the explorations of Coronado and in confirmation of the representations made to The Honorable Francisco Vasquez del Mercado, The Under Secretary of Agriculture, The Republic of Mexico, by Señor Carlos Escudero, this Commission's representative, with whom he was good enough to discuss the subject early in April, the United States Coronado Exposition Commission is hopeful that an international park or monument may be established on each side of the International Boundary. Specifically, the United States Coronado Exposition Commission proposes: 1. The establishment of a park or monument area on each side of the international boundary, the size of both of the areas to total approximately 5,920 acres. Of this total acreage and for the purpose described the United States Government would set aside a total of 2,960 acres on its side of the international boundary, in the State of Arizona, to be known as the Coronado International Monument. 2. The United States Government, through the United States Coronado Exposition Commission, invites the Republic of Mexico to set aside a similar area on its side of the international boundary as a companion park or monument. A map showing in red the area which the United States Government proposes to set aside for the Coronado International Monument is attached for the information and consideration of the Republic of Mexico. 3. The United States Government, through the National Park Service, would undertake the development of the Coronado International Monument on the United States side of the international boundary as an independent and complete unit. It is contemplated, of course, that the area in Mexico would likewise be an independent and complete unit and that both units would be administered and financed independently by the respective Governments. 4. Definite plans for the development of the Coronado International Monument will follow the establishment of the monument. However, the proposed development contemplates the construction of a museum sufficiently adequate for the display of Coronado material, dioramas, showcases, and other articles and items of pertinent interest. With particular reference to this museum, the United States Coronado Exposition Commission would greatly appreciate the loan of Coronado and other historical material, by the Republic of Mexico, to the National Park Service of the United States Government. 5. General plans for the development of the Coronado International Monument likewise include, either as a part of the museum, or as a separate building, an observation or lookout station on Cororado Peak (Lookout Peak on the enclosed map) from which elevation the entire area may be surveyed and observed by visitors. Other developments would include the construction of a superintendent's residence, and the establishment of parking areas, telephone lines, electric lines, necessary water and other facilities, and the construction of trails and entrance roads to the developed areas. The United States Coronado Exposition Commission appreciates greatly the interest that the Republic of Mexico has already manifested in the Coronado Cuarto Centennial, and will feel deeply honored should the Republic of Mexico find it consistent to accept the invitation conveyed herein, to collaborate with the United States Government, through this Commission, toward the establishment of the proposed Coronado International Monument which would provide a lasting CORONADO INTERNATIONAL MONUMENT 5 1 8 memorial to the accomplishments of that intrepid explorer and the members of his expedition. Very respectfully, The Coronado International Monument is proposed to commemorate in an enduring form the epic explorations of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. Starting from Compostela on the Pacific Coast of Mexico in February 1540, Coronado, with some 200 horsemen, 70 foot soldiers, and nearly 1,000 Indian allies and servants, rode northward to extend the Spanish empire into northern Mexico and that part of the United States today known as the Southwest. Passing up the west coast of Mexico to the Yaqui River Valley, the expedition stopped to found the town of San Geronimo, and then followed the arroyos to the Sonora Valley. The point at which Coronado's expedition passed into what is now Arizona from Mexico is generally believed by historians to have been in the vicinity of the San Pedro and Santa Cruz River valleys. The Zuni pueblos were reached with little difficulty. Among these important centers of Indian life were Hawikuh, Acoma, Taos, Pecos, and Awatobi. One group of Spaniards proceeded to the head of the Gulf of California and ascended the Colorado River, probably passing the Gila River. Shortly afterward, the Grand Canyon of the Colorado was reached by another group of Coronado's followers. Searching for the wealthy region of Gran Quivira, Coronado himself descended the Pecos River to the Upper Brazos River, crossed the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma and reached Quivira which probably lay in eastern Kansas. Coronado's expedition was one of the outstanding achievements of a period marked by notable explorations. It made known the vast extent and the nature of the country that lay north of central Mexico, and from the time of Coronado, Spaniards never lost interest in the country. In no small measure their subsequent occupation of it was due to the curiosity so created. о |