80TH CONGRESS 2d Session

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SENATE

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REPORT No. 1605

PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FORT VANCOUVER NATIONAL MONUMENT, IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, TO INCLUDE THE SITE OF THE OLD HUDSON'S BAY CO. STOCKADE

JUNE 11 (legislative day JUNE 1), 1948.—Ordered to be printed

Mr. BUTLER, from the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, submitted the following

REPORT

To accompany H. R. 59571

The Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5957) to provide for the establishment of the Fort Vancouver National Monument, in the State of Washington, to include the site of the old Hudson's Bay Co. stockade, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill do pass. The purpose of this bill is to transfer from the War Assets Administration to the Department of the Interior approximately 90 acres of surplus land at Fort Vancouver, Wash., for the establishment thereon of the Fort Vancouver National Monument. No expenditure of Federal funds is required.

The proposed national monument would include the site of old Fort Vancouver, established in 1825, and largest post of the Hudson's Bay Company. It has been aptly referred to as the "cradle of civilization" of the Northwest country, for from this post stemmed the commerce, culture, economic and political development of the Oregon Territory. It was the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Co. for all its activities between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, from Russian Alaska, to Spanish California. Its historical significance transcends international boundaries as well as State lines. Fort Vancouver was the western terminus of the historic Oregon Trail, and it was here, under the guidance of the Hudson's Bay Co.'s famous factor, John McLoughlin, that the planning and intrigue were developed by which Great Britain hoped to gain possession of all the land north of the Columbia River.

After the treaty of 1846 placed this territory under the American flag, the site of the Hudson's Bay post became Vancouver Barracks, the first United States Military Establishment in the Northwest. Fort

Vancouver has inscribed for itself in history a long and honorable chapter of thrilling events of great significance. Here were stationed at one time or another such famous Army officers as Ulysses S. Grant, Phil Sheridan, George B. McClelland, George E. Pickett, Nelson A. Miles, Frederick Funston, and the present Secretary of State, George Catlett Marshall.

Now, after almost 125 years of continuous service, Fort Vancouver is being abandoned as a military establishment and has been declared surplus by the Army. H. R. 5957 would authorize the Department of the Interior to preserve as a national monument the site of the original Hudson's Bay stockade and sufficient surrounding land to preserve the historical features of the area. The civic authorities and residents of Vancouver. Wash.. strongly urge that such action be taken.

The Pacific Northwest has few sites of historical interest than can compare with old Fort Vancouver. Its preservation is requested by the Department of the Interior in order to help complete the system of outstanding historic sites and areas maintained by the National Park Service throughout the West.

At the suggestion of the author of the bill and with the approval of the National Park Service, the House Committee on Public Lands amended the original bill to reduce the proposed area from 125 to 90

acres.

Further detailed information is carried in the report of the Interior Department to the chairman of the House Committee on Public Lands under date of April 21, 1948, which report is hereinbelow set forth in full and made a part of this report.

Hon. RICHARD J. WELCH,

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington 25, D. C., April 21, 1948.

Chairman. Committee on Public Lands,

House of Representatives.

MY DEAR MR. WELCH: Your committee has requested a report on H. R. 5957, entitled "A bill to provide for the establishment of the Fort Vancouver National Monument, in the State of Washington, to include the site of the old Hudson's Bay Company stockade, and for other purposes.' This bill would authorize the establishment of the national monument from Federal surplus lands. The proposed legislation provides that the area of the national monument shall not exceed 125 acres.

I recommend that H. R. 5957 be enacted.

Fort Vancouver National Monument would include the site of the old fort, western headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company from 1829 to 1845. During that time, it was the veritable capital of the Pacific Northwest, i. e., the economic, military, social, and political hub of the vast northwestern region in dispute between the United States and Great Britain. Many Oregon immigrants who arrived in the Oregon country via the Oregon Trail or via water were befriended and aided here by Dr. John McLoughlin, chief factor of the company. The later history of this area, from 1846 to the present time, as part of the United States Army Vancouver Barracks Reservation, is also important as typifying the role of the United States Army in the settlement and development of the Pacific Northwest. The roots of the Pacific Northwest for 118 years have been inextricably mingled with the history of this area, the national importance of which has been twice recognized by the Advisory Board on National Parks, Historic Sites, Buildings, and Monuments. established by the Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666).

Utilizing funds made available by the last Congress for study of the Fort Vancouver area, the National Park Service of this Department has carried on prelim

inary archeological excavations which have been successful in revealing the exact site of the old Hudson's Bay Company fort as attested by the remains of stockade posts still in place. The excavations revealed also a rich store of metallic and ceramic objects that are of distinct value for a museum display interpreting the early social and economic history of the Northwest. Further archeological work at the site would undoubtedly result in the recovery of additional historic objects of this character and would furnish additional information regarding the ground plan of the fort.

After more than a century of Federal military administration, the major part of the lands involved in this bill have been declared surplus property and are now subject to disposal under the provisions of the Surplus Property Act. We anticipate that the use for national monument purposes of a portion of the surplus lands already in Federal ownership in the Vancouver Barracks area, as provided in this bill and as shown on the accompanying map (No. "NM-VAN 6000"), will meet two essential requirements-the preservation of the historic stockade of the Hudson's Bay Co. post of Fort Vancouver, and the preservation of the historic parade ground of the later United States Army Post. Local sentiment favors the preservation of these historic properties.

Certain lands below the Evergreen Highway, within the proposed national monument area, are under the administration of the Department of the Army and have not been declared surplus. However, the Secretary of the Army has indicated by letter of October 2, 1947, that his Department is agreeable to the transfer of Army lands to the Department of the Interior for the preservation of the stockade area, provided that certain military facilities can be moved and reerected on nearby ground assigned to the use of the Organized Reserve Corps. All other lands within the proposed boundaries are surplus lands which the War Assets Administration would transfer to the administration of this Department for inclusion in the national monument.

Perpetuation of Fort Vancouver as a historic and traditional center in the Pacific Northwest needs to be assured by enactment of this proposed legislation. Unless such legislation is enacted, the lands may soon be dispersed among various local public and private users and the future development of the national monument made impossible. The population of the West has grown with phenomenal rapidity in the last decades, threatening its historic sites with destruction through residential or industrial developments. It would be a distinct national loss if the Fort Vancouver site, now in Federal ownership, should fall a prey to similar adverse private uses. Vice President Emeritus Burt Brown Barker, of the University of Oregon, in voicing the opinion of the citizens of the Northwest that Fort Vancouver be preserved, has stated "* * the Northwest has few sites it can preserve, and of them all, the old Hudson's Bay fort stands supreme. Around this old post is woven every thread of our early history.' In addition to people in the Northwest, distinguished persons in Canada and Great Britain have expressed interest in the preservation of Fort Vancouver.

So far as this Department is concerned, the proposed Fort Vancouver National Monument would help to complete the system of outstanding historic sites and areas that are being preserved in Federal areas throughout the West. The American people desire and need to understand better the contributions to the Nation of the pioneers of the West. No other site in the Pacific Northwest provides such an opportunity as Fort Vancouver to interpret this great part of our national heritage.

As we understand that your committee desires to hold an immediate hearing on this bill, this report has not been submitted to the Bureau of the Budget. Consequently, I am unable to advise you at present concerning its relation to the program of the President.

Sincerely yours,

C. GIRARD DAVIDSON, Assistant Secretary of the Interior.