Proclamation 531—Diminution of Bitter Root Forest Reserve, Idaho and Montana

Whereas, The Bitter Root Forest Reserve, in the States of Idaho and Montana, was established by proclamation dated February twenty-second, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, under and by virtue of section twenty-four of the Act of Congress, approved March third, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, entitled, '"An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for other purposes", which provides, "That the President of the United States may, from time to time, set apart and reserve, in any State or Territory having public land bearing forests, in any part of the public lands wholly or in part covered with timber or undergrowth, whether of commercial value or not, as public reservations, and the President shall, by public proclamation, declare the establishment of such reservations and the limits thereof";

And whereas, it is further provided by the Act of Congress, approved June fourth, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, entitled, " An act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, and for other purposes", that "the President is hereby authorized at any time to modify any Executive order that has been or may hereafter be made establishing any forest reserve, and by such modification may reduce the area or change the boundary line of such reserve, or may vacate altogether any order creating such reserve";

Now, Therefore, I, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States, by virtue of the power vested in me by the aforesaid act of Congress, approved June fourth, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, do hereby make known and proclaim that the following described lands in the State of Idaho are hereby released and eliminated from the aforesaid Bitter Root Forest Reserve, and the aforesaid proclamation dated February twenty-second, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, establishing said reserve is hereby vacated to that extent, and no more:

What will be when surveyed Sections one (1) to eighteen (18), both inclusive, Township twenty-six (26) North, Range six (6) East, Boise Base and Meridian, Idaho; Sections nineteen (19) to thirty-six (36), both inclusive, Township twenty-seven (27) North, Range six (6) East; Sections four (4) to nine (9), both inclusive, and Sections sixteen (16), seventeen (17) and eighteen (18), Township twenty-six (26) North, Range seven (7) East; Sections nineteen (19), twenty (20) and twenty-one (21), and Sections twenty-eight (28) to thirty-three (33), both inclusive, Township twenty-seven (27) North, Range seven (7) East: and all Township twenty nine (29) North, Range eight (8) East.

The lands hereby excluded from the reserve and restored to the public domain shall lie open to settlement from the date hereof, but shall not be subject to entry, tiling or selection until after ninety days notice by such publication as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington this 14th day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand, nine hundred and four, and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-eighth.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

By the President:

JOHN HAY,

Secretary of State.