GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, Hon. WILLIAM L. DAWSON, Washington, D.C., December 11, 1959. Chairman, Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Pursuant to your letter of February 24, 1959, enclosed are three summary tabulations of real property owned by the Federal Government throughout the world, together with a statement on coverage. The other summary table requested, "Federal Real Property in the United States, by State," is now being prepared and will be submitted as soon as completed. For the first time, the inventory shows Alaska as part of the United States. The Department of Defense, however, furnished only overall summary figures on total acres and total costs for its military functions located in U.S. Territories and possessions and in Alaska. Consequently, data for military functions in Alaska are included as part of Defense's summary data for U.S. Territories and possessions. The Federal Government owned real property throughout the world with an acquisition cost of $49.2 billion as of June 30, 1959. The Department of Defense accounts for $33.9 billion, or 69 percent, while civil agencies account for $15.3 billion, or 31 percent of the total. Sincerely yours, FRANKLIN FLOETE, Administrator. INVENTORY OF REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE UNITED STATES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AS OF JUNE 30, 1959 AUTHORITY An inventory of real property owned by the United States throughout the world, as of June 30, 1959, is being compiled by the General Services Administration pursuant to the request of the chairman of the House Committee on Government Operations in a letter dated February 24, 1959. SCOPE This inventory includes all real properties owned by the U.S. Government throughout the world. It is based on detailed inventory reports submitted by the participating agencies as prescribed by General Services Administration Circular No. 80, revised, dated June 6, 1958. Inventory data are presented in three major geographical location groupings: (1) United States, (2) U.S. Territories and possessions, and (3) foreign countries. For the first time, the inventory shows Alaska as part of the United States. The Department of Defense, however, furnished only overall summary figures on total acres and total costs for its military functions located in U.S. Territories and possessions and in Alaska. Consequently, data for military functions in Alaska are included as part of Defense's summary data for U.S. Territories and possessions. The inventory does not include any lands owned by the sovereign governments of the various U.S. Territories and possessions. Neither does this inventory cover any lands which are administered by the United States under trusteeship by authority of the United Nations. Real property declared to be excess to the needs of the holding agency or surplus to the needs of the U.S. Government are included in the inventory. Data with respect to buildings, structures, and other facilities in process of construction are included only if they were available for use as of June 30, 1959. The inventory excludes residential and farm properties acquired by the Federal Government through foreclosure incident to a lending operation or other Federal aid project. It also excludes property owned by the District of Columbia government. The inventory excludes machinery, processing equipment, demountable and movable structures, and furniture and special use items which are not considered part of realty. Properties managed by the Architect of the Capitol and those held in trust by the U.S. Government are not included in the summary tabulations. Cost figures shown are the actual acquisition costs, when available, and estimated costs (as of date of acquisition) when actual costs are not available. Costs include all capital improvements and such items as plumbing, elevators, heating and lighting fixtures, and air-conditioning systems, which are normally required for the functional use of a building. In addition, costs include such items as safes and vaults which are built into the structure or are permanently affixed thereto. No costs have been included in this inventory for (1) unreserved public domain; (2) public domain reserved for national parks, national forests, military installations, and other purposes; and (3) historical sites, when such sites have been acquired by methods other than by purchase. However, the acreage for such lands is included in the inventory. |