1 Buildings, structures, and facilities computed at acquisition (known or estimated) cost, and these figures are included in the Federal realty section of this report. Washington, D.C., November 7, 1960. Hon. WILLIAM L. DAWSON, DEAR CONGRESSMAN DAWSON: Reference is made to your letter of March 10, 1960, and to our acknowledgment of March 24 in connection with estimates of the value of public domain realty administered by this Department as of June 30, 1960. Such estimates together with acreages are shown by State in the accompanying table. The area of public domain realty administered by the Department as shown in the table is larger than last year's figure by 27,974 acres. This gain is the net result of the following three factors. Some 53,000 acres in Arizona comprising the Santa Rita Experimental Range were determined during the year to have been reserved from the public domain and are therefore included in the public domain total rather than being carried as acquired lands as in the past. Second, some 13,000 acres in Puerto Rico, comprising lands formerly belonging to the Spanish Crown, upon further consideration do not appear to be properly classes as public domain. They therefore have been removed from that classification. Third, sundry land exchanges, purchases, and acreage adjustments have resulted in a net reduction of public domain acreage administered by this Department of roughly 12,000 acres. As in previous years, the data represent an attempt to determine the commercial value of public domain land and timber in terms of fair market value and assume the marketability of all lands. No allowance has been made for public values for such important uses as water production. The estimated values shown in the table are based upon those previously reported with adjustments to reflect acquisitions and disposals during the year. The value of mineral resources subject to disposal under the mining or mineral leasing laws are not included in the above figures due to the fact that they are being reported to the committee by the Department of the Interior. Sincerely yours, C. M. FERGUSON, Assistant Secretary. Area and estimated market value of public domain realty, 1960, U.S. Department of Agriculture 1 1 Includes national forests, Bankhead-Jones title III lands, and research and demonstration areas. ? Does not include certain areas of public domain lands in Eden Valley irrigation project administered under law as acquired land. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Hon. WILLIAM L. DAWSON, Chairman, Committee on Government Operations, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. DAWSON: Reference is made to your letter of March 9, 1960, addressed to Mr. B. D. Tallamy, requesting information regarding public domain properties under the control of the Bureau of Public Roads as of June 30, 1960. Please be advised that all installations reported last year were transferred to the State of Alaska on June 30, 1960, under the provisions of the Alaska Omnibus Act (73 Stat. 141). At present, the Bureau of Public Roads does not control any public domain properties. If we can be of further service, please do not hesitate to call on us. Sincerely yours, ELLIS L. ARMSTRONG, Commissioner of Public Roads. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Hon. WILLIAM L. DAWSON, Chairman, Executive and Legislative Subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. DAWSON: Furnished in response to your letter dated March 9, 1960, is the attached information on public domain land held by this Bureau. If additional information is requested, we will be glad to comply with your request. Sincerely yours, CHARLES PIERCE, Sitka Magnetic Observatory 1. Number of acres and location: a. Acres: 117.37. b. Location: Sitka, Baranoff Island, Alaska. 2. Description of property: a. Land: Wooded land on northern outskirts of Sitka. b. Buildings, all permanent: Floor space (square Number feet) Water system. 3. Use of land and buildings: Primary magnetic observatory and seismological 2. Description of property: b. Location: Tucson, Pima County, Ariz. a. Land: Desert land located 10 miles east of Tucson. b. Buildings, all permanent: Floor space (square feet) 1, 200 2, 766 778 2,747 15 7, 491 c. Facilities, all permanent. Fencing, 4,400 feet. Gasoline storage tank, 280 gallons. Well, 200 feet, with 5,000-gallon storage tank. Electrical distribution system. Sewage system. 3. Use of land and buildings: Primary magnetic observatory and seismograph |