The Coconino sun., 1923-12-28

4 WV W UG uSGQ OIL In6 MdlIlG-NIfanQ
Canyon road was officially brought to
the attention of the senate, and print
ed in the Congressional Record on De-
cember Is, 1923. The record reads
as follows:
The president pro tempore laid be-
for the senate report of the secre-
tary of the interior, transmitted pur-
suant TO law, relative to the terms
upon which the government may ac-
quire by purchase the Bright Angel
trail, in the Grand Canyon national
park, Arizona, which was referred to
the committe on public lands and sur
veys.
Mr.. Ashurst: Mr.. President, / ask
unanimous consent that the letter OF
Hon. Hubert Work, secretary Of the
interior, in regard to the terms upon
which the United States may acquire
by purchase the Bright Angel trail,
in the Grand Canyon national park,
Coconino county, Arizona, be printed
in the Record.
There being no objection the letter
was ordered to be printed in the Rec
ord, as follows:
Department of the Interior
Washington, Dec. IL, 1928.
The Honorable the President Fro
Tempore of the Senate.
Ny Dear Mr.. President Pro Tenn
pore: The action Of congress approved
February 26, 1919, entitled "An Act
to establish the Grand Canyon nat
ional park in the state of Arizona,
provides, among other. things:
"That nothing herein contained
shall affect any valid existing claim,
location, or entry under the land laws
of the United States, whether for
homestead, mineral, right of way, OF
any other purpose whatsoever, or
shall affect the rights Of any such
claimant, locator, or entryman to the
full use and enjoyment of his land,
and nothing herein contained shall af-
feet, diminish or impair the right and
authority of the county of Coconino,
in the state of Arizona, to levy and
collect tolls for the passage Of live
stock over and upon the Bright Angel
toll road and trail, and the secretary
of the interior is hereby authorized t.
negotiate with the said county of Co
conino for the purchase of said Bright
Angel toll road and trail and all rights
therein, and report to congress at as
early date as possible the terms up
on which the property can be pro-
cured"
In compliance with this provision of
law | have the following report to
make to you:
The Bright Angel toll road and
trail which descends the south wall
of the canyon to the floor lying some
4300 feet below the rim starts within
a few hundred yards of the terminus
of the railroad and the end of the
main public highway which brings
practically all the visitors TO the south
rim Of the Grand Canyon. At this
point there are also concentrated the
hotels and camps available for the ac-
commodation Of the visitors and the
administrative headquarters of the
national park service that has charge
under the interior department of the
administration of the park. The trail
is the only means of access into the
canyon for 20 miles to the east where
the Grand View trail is located, and
eight miles to the west where the
Hermit trail is located. The trail has
been privately owned, the present title
so far as can be ascertained, being
fully vested in the county of Coconino, |
which adjoins the park on the south, |
and the above provision of law rec
ognizes rights Of the county Of Coco |
nino in said trail. The county has
collected from the public operator a /
toll Of 81 for every visitor carried on /
horse or mule back over the trail, it /
being understood that tolls for some /
7 ,681 visitors were paid for such use
of the trail the past year.
The great Importance to the United /
States Of having ownership of this I
trail for the unrestricted use Of the |
public is apparent, and the impor- [
tance of its acquisition was fully EN-
phasized by the injunction of congress
in the organic act above cited.
In compliance with the provisions
of this law negotiations between rep
resentatiyes Of the department and
the board Of supervisors of the coun-
ty of Coconino, Arizona, as represen- +
tatiyes Of that county, were carried on
for several years without defininte re-
suits
During the past summer, however |
and in the presence Of visiting mem |
bers Of congress, the following prop |
osition was informally agreed upon as
fair and reasonable under
the circumstances to both parties in
volved, namely: That in the event con-
gress shall appropriate not less than
the sum of 100000 to be expended |
upon the reconstruction and improve
ment Of road between Maine, Ari-
zona, (which is small town lying /
midway between the towns of Will
liams and Flagstaff, Arizona, on the
National Old Trails road about 80
miles away, and the south boundary /
of the Grand Canyon national park,
which will constitute then the most I
important approach highway to the I
park, the board of supervisors of the
county Of Coconino will execute and |
deliver a good and sufficient deed |
to the United States the I
full and complete title to the Bright |
Angel toll road and trail.
1t was ascertained that the provis-
ions of existing Arizona law require
the selling Of any property, real or
personal, belonging to the county, at
public auction, after certain prescrib-