Chamberlain-Ferris Act
Encyclopedia
The Chamberlain–Ferris Act (39 Stat. 218) of June 9, 1916 was an Act of the United States Congress
that ruled that 2800000 acres (11,331.2 km²) of the original 4 million granted to the Southern Pacific Company (successor to the Oregon and California Railroad
) in California
and Oregon
were "revested" to the United States, and put under the control of the General Land Office
, which was to dispose of the lands and timber through auction sales.
It was sponsored by Sen. George E. Chamberlain (D) of Oregon and Rep. Scott Ferris
(D) of Oklahoma.
The results proved disappointing, and the act was repealed by the subsequent O&C Act of 1937 (50 Stat. 874) of August 28, 1937, which authorized the Secretary of the Interior
to establish sustained yield units on the land, 2700000 acres (10,926.5 km²) of which was still unsold. This Act established the O&C Administration to manage the lands.
As of 2006, 2 million acres (8,093.7 km²) of the revested lands are managed by the Bureau of Land Management
and 500000 acres (2,023.4 km²) are managed by the United States Forest Service
.
Act of Congress
An Act of Congress is a statute enacted by government with a legislature named "Congress," such as the United States Congress or the Congress of the Philippines....
that ruled that 2800000 acres (11,331.2 km²) of the original 4 million granted to the Southern Pacific Company (successor to the Oregon and California Railroad
Oregon and California Railroad
The Oregon and California Railroad was formed from the Oregon Central Railroad when it was the first to operate a stretch south of Portland in 1869. This qualified the Railroad for land grants in California, whereupon the name of the railroad soon changed to Oregon & California Rail Road Company...
) in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
were "revested" to the United States, and put under the control of the General Land Office
General Land Office
The General Land Office was an independent agency of the United States government responsible for public domain lands in the United States. It was created in 1812 to take over functions previously conducted by the United States Department of the Treasury...
, which was to dispose of the lands and timber through auction sales.
It was sponsored by Sen. George E. Chamberlain (D) of Oregon and Rep. Scott Ferris
Scott Ferris
Scott Ferris was a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma.Upon the admission of Oklahoma as a State into the Union, Ferris was elected as a Democrat to the 60th Congress. He was reelected to the 61st and to the six succeeding Congresses and served from November 16, 1907, until March 3, 1921...
(D) of Oklahoma.
The results proved disappointing, and the act was repealed by the subsequent O&C Act of 1937 (50 Stat. 874) of August 28, 1937, which authorized the Secretary of the Interior
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
to establish sustained yield units on the land, 2700000 acres (10,926.5 km²) of which was still unsold. This Act established the O&C Administration to manage the lands.
As of 2006, 2 million acres (8,093.7 km²) of the revested lands are managed by the Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
and 500000 acres (2,023.4 km²) are managed by the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
.
See also
- Oregon land fraud scandalOregon land fraud scandalThe Oregon land fraud scandal of the early 20th century involved U.S. government land grants in the U.S. state of Oregon being illegally obtained with the assistance of public officials. Most of Oregon's U.S. congressional delegation received indictments in the case: U.S. Senator John H....
- Oregon and California RailroadOregon and California RailroadThe Oregon and California Railroad was formed from the Oregon Central Railroad when it was the first to operate a stretch south of Portland in 1869. This qualified the Railroad for land grants in California, whereupon the name of the railroad soon changed to Oregon & California Rail Road Company...
- 64th United States Congress64th United States CongressThe Sixty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1915 to March 4, 1917, during the third and fourth...
(1915–17) - 74th United States Congress74th United States Congress-House:Also 2 Delegates, 3 Resident Commissioners-Senate:*President of the Senate: John N. Garner *President pro tempore: Key Pittman -Majority leadership:*Majority leader: Joseph T. Robinson...
(1935–37)