Chapter 371. To authorize the Secretary of Commerce to dispose of certain lighthouse reservations, and to increase the efficiency of the Lighthouse Service, and for other purposes
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CHAP. 371.— An Act To authorize the Secretary of Commerce to dispose of certain lighthouse reservations, and to increase the efficiency of the Lighthouse Service, and for other purposes.May 22, 1926.[[H. R. 10860](/us/bill/69/hr/10860).][[Public, No. 276](/us/pl/69/276).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Lighthouses.Disposal of surplus reservations. That the Secretary of Commerce is hereby authorized to dispose of the following surplus lighthouse reservations in the manner and under the conditions indicated:
(1)Crown Point, Lake Champlain.Conveyed to New York for public park.Rights reserved. To convey to the State of New York, for public park purposes, all of the Crown Point Lighthouse Reservation, New York, together with all buildings thereon,, excepting such tracts of land as are necessary for the maintenance of lights as specified herein; reserving the right to the Lighthouse Service to maintain such lights in the tower or at such other place on the reservation as the needs of navigation may require, and the right to enter upon the reservation623 by the most convenient route by land or water for the purpose of maintenance of such lights, and reserving an easement for beams of light from such lights, and the right to trim any trees that now exist or may hereafter exist that interfere with or obstruct the range of any such lights. The Lake Champlain Transportation Company,Lake Champlain Transportation Company may retain pier. and its successors, shall be permitted to maintain and use its pier, now located at the reservation, erected under permission from the Treasury Department dated May 1, 1888, in the same manner and subject to the same terms and conditions as though the conveyance had not been made. The State of New York shall be required toMemorial tower to be maintained by State.Vol. 35, p. $24. maintain the memorial tower erected on the Crown Point Lighthouse Reservation under authority of the Act of Congress entitled “An Act to authorize the erection upon the Crown Point Lighthouse Reservation, New York, of a memorial to commemorate the discovery of Lake Champlain,” approved February 20, 1911.
(2)To transfer to the War Department for military purposesElm Tree Beacon, N. Y.Transferred to War Department.Description. the portion of the Elm Tree Beacon Lighthouse Reservation, New York, described as follows: Beginning at a point on the center of a granite monument on the southwesterly side of New Dorp Lane, which monument marks the northwesterly corner of the property and bears one hundred twenty-five degrees fifty-nine minutes fifteen and fifty-three one-hundredths feet from a monument of the topographical department of New York City; thence the property line bears one hundred twenty-two degrees nine minutes ninety-two and thirty-eight one-hundredths feet to the center of a similar granite monument; thence continuing in the same straight line one hundred fifty-four and sixty-six one-hundredths feet more or less to high-water line of New York Bay; thence along the said high-water line as the same winds and turns to the southwesterly corner of a stone jetty; thence along the southwesterly face of the said jetty three hundred and one degrees and nine minutes one hundred forty-four and three one-hundredths feet to the westerly corner thereof; thence thirty-eight degrees fifty-four minutes one and fifty-six one-hundredths feet; thence three hundred four degrees and seven minutes seventy-five feet to the center of a granite monument at the south westerly corner of the property; thence thirty-six degrees thirty-five minutes two hundred twenty-nine and thirty-three one-thousandths feet to the center of the stone monument at the point or place of beginning, being an area of one and one-tenth acres more or less.
(3)To transfer to the Treasury Department, for use of the PublicBrewerton Channel, Md.Portion of, transferred to Public Health Service. Health Service, that portion of the Brewerton Channel Range Rear Lighthouse Reservation, Maryland, located approximately four hundred and fifty feet outside the line of the quarantine station at Baltimore, Maryland, except that the Department of Commerce shall retain for lighthouse purposes the site of the skeleton tower on which the rear light of the range is displayed, and necessary right of way thereto. The Secretary of Commerce shall describe by metes and bounds the exact portion of the reservation transferred.
(4)To transfer to the Treasury Department, for Coast GuardCape Charles, Va.Transfer of unused reservation to Coast Guard. purposes, all of the Cape Charles Unused Lighthouse Reservation, Virginia, now lying on the ocean front, consisting of about six acres of land on Smiths Island, Virginia, together with structures thereon.
(5)To transfer to the War Department the parcel of land locatedLong Point, N. C.Transfer to War Department in exchange. at Long Point, North Carolina, known as the Long Point Lighthouse Reservation; and, in exchange therefor, the Secretary of War is authorized to permanently transfer to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Commerce a parcel of land of approximately five and seven-tenths acres, located at Coinjock, North Carolina, and being a624 portion of lands acquired for improvement of inland waterway from Norfolk, Virginia, to Beaufort, North Carolina.
(6)Amelia Island, Fla.Transfer to Fernandina of portion of reservation, for public park. To convey to the city of Fernandina, Florida, for public park purposes, that portion of the Amelia Island Lighthouse Reservation, Florida, consisting of all that portion of section 12, township 3 north, range 29 east, Tallahassee meridian, Florida, lying north of the shell road running east from the city of Fernandina across section 12, reserving to the United States an easement for beams of light from the Amelia Island Lighthouse and the right to trim any trees that now exist or may hereafter exist that interfere with or obstruct the rays of such light.
(7)Old Lighthouse, Cunningham Creek, Ohio.Quitclaim to heirs of Joel Norton. To convey by quitclaim deed to the heirs of Joel Norton, for a consideration of $10, certain land known as the Old Lighthouse Reservation, situated at Cunningham Creek, in Lake County, Ohio, which Joel Norton and descendents have occupied and paid taxes on for many years. The property is described as follows in the deed of March 11, 1836, from Robert Harper and others to the United Description.States: “A certain piece or parcel of land situated in the township of Madison, county and State aforesaid, which is also in township numbered 12, in the sixth range of townships in the Connecticut Western Reserve (so called), in tract numbered 1, it being a part of fifty acres of land heretofore deeded by John Cunningham to the Harpersfield Commercial Company, by deed bearing date May 6, anno Domini 1816, as follows, to wit: Beginning at a point on the west line of said fifty acres, thirty-four rods northwardly from the southwest corner of said fifty acres, and running thence north two degrees west along said west line, ten rods; thence north eighty-eight degrees east sixteen rods; thence south two degrees east, ten rods; thence south eighty-eight degrees west, sixteen rods to the place of beginning, containing one acre of land.”
(8)Round Island, Straits of Mackinac.Portion of, conveyed to Michigan for public park. To convey to the State of Michigan for public park purposes, that portion of the Round Island Lighthouse Reservation in the Straits of Mackinac, Michigan, lying eastward of a true north and south line passing through a point distant nineteen hundred feet, one hundred and thirty-five degrees true from the center of the Round Island Lighthouse Tower, which tower is located at latitude forty-five degrees, fifty minutes, fifteen seconds north, and longitude eighty-four degrees, thirty-seven minutes west, containing approximately three hundred and fifty-two acres.
(9)Copper Harbor.Portion of, conveyed to Keweenaw County or Michigan for public park. To convey to Keweenaw County, Michigan, or to the State of Michigan, a portion of the Copper Harbor Lighthouse Reservation, Michigan, for public park purposes, the said tract consisting of fifty acres on the west end of lot 3, section 33, township 59 north, range 28 west, Michigan meridian.
(10)Makapuu, Hawaii.Portion of road to, conveyed to Honolulu. To convey by quitclaim deed to the city and county of Honolulu, Hawaii, for public purposes, a strip of land twenty feet wide, the same being a portion of the Makapuu Point Lighthouse road connecting Koko Head with the Makapuu Point Lighthouse, Conditions.upon the express conditions
(a)that the city and county of Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, shall maintain that portion of the road transferred in condition suitable for the uninterrupted traffic of motor vehicles of the United States;
(b)that within thirty days after receipt of any request therefor from the Secretary of Commerce the clerk of the city and county shall submit to the said Secretary of Commerce a report regarding its compliance with the terms and conditions stated in this paragraph; and
(c)that in the event of the failure, of such city and county to comply with the conditions of this paragraph the grant shall be forfeited and upon written notice from the Secretary of Commerce to such clerk the property so conveyed shall immediately revert to the United States625 without further notice, demand, or action brought. The conditionsConditions suspended if public highway open on another road. of clauses (a), (b), and
(c)of this paragraph shall be suspended during any period during which a public highway on any other road is open and in good condition, by means of which uninterrupted access may be had by motor vehicles to the Makapuu Point Light Station from Honolulu.
(11)To convey to the Mount Vernon Chapter of the DaughtersJames Point, Va.Conveyed to Daughters of American Revolution. of the American Revolution the Jones Point Lighthouse Reservation, Virginia, containing approximately three thousand square feet, acquired by purchase April 3, 1835, with all structures thereon. The grantee shall maintain the reservation, including the initialMaintenance of District of Columbia boundary stone, etc. boundary stone marking the original southern corner of the District of Columbia, located thereon, in a safe and proper condition for historical purposes.
(12)To convey to the State of Michigan for public-park purposesBig and Little Sable.Portions of reservations conveyed to Michigan for park purposes. such portions of the Big Sable and Little Sable Lighthouse Reservations, Michigan, as are not required for lighthouse purposes, on such terms and conditions as to providing means of access to the light stations and the Coast Guard station and for maintaining easements for beams of light for the lights that may be maintained by the United States, as the Secretary of Commerce shall determine.
(13)To sell and convey by quitclaim deed to the highest bidder,Cleveland, Ohio.Sale of lighthouse property in. after due advertisement and upon such terms as the Secretary of Commerce may deem for the best interests of the United States, the lighthouse property located on West Ninth Street and Main Avenue, in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, together with the keepers’ dwellingsQuarters for keepers to be provided. and other improvements thereon. The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to provide suitable quarters for the lighthouse keepers, in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, and to acquire by purchase, condemnation, or otherwise, a suitable site, and to contract for the erection and completion of suitable buildings thereon, and there is herebyPurchase of site and erection of buildings, etc.*Post*, p. 853. authorized to be appropriated the sum of $60,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be available for such purpose, including the purchase of necessary equipment and the rental of temporary quarters for the lighthouse keepers.
(14)To release or quitclaim, by quitclaim deed, unto DoctorEdgartown, Mass.Release of light house right of way at, to Mefford Runyon. Mefford Runyon the right of way of the United States of America at Edgartown, in the county of Dukes and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, commencing on the southerly side of North WaterDescription. Street at the westerly side of lands, formerly of Therese M. Raymond, now of Doctor Mefford Runyon, thence running southerly along the westerly side of said lands about one hundred feet, thence southeasterly across said hinds, also other lands of Doctor Mefford Runyon, purchased by him from Mary J. Francis, about one hundred and thirty feet to lands now or formerly of Albeit H. Storer and there terminating. Said right of way being from fifteen feet to twenty feet in width, and being so much of the right of way as was granted to the United States of America by Seth Vincent and others, by deed dated July 30, 1828, and recorded in book 23 of deeds for Dukes County, Massachusetts, on page 223, as lies within the boundaries of the two tracts above mentioned conveyed to Doctor Mefford Runyon; the first by deed from Mary J. Francis, bearing date November 7, 1896, and recorded in book 98 of deeds for Dukes County, aforesaid, on page 8: and the second by deed from Therese M. Raymond and husband, dated June 8, 1916. and recorded in book 141 of deeds for Dukes County, aforesaid, on page 190, and so forth; also being the right of way extending from North Water Street to the lands of Albert H. Storer as shown on two certain626 maps of United States Lighthouse property at Edgartown, Massachusetts, on file in the office of the Second Lighthouse District at Boston, Massachusetts, the first bearing date June 29, 1911, and the second bearing date November, 1912. Sec. 2. Express condition for compliance of obligations by designated grantees. Each conveyance authorized by paragraph (1), (6). (8), (9), (11), or
(12)of section 1 shall be subject to the express condition that the grantee assume the obligations imposed by such Reversion for non-performance.paragraph, including carrying out the purposes of the grant. The Secretary of Commerce may at any time, by letter addressed to its chief executive officer or officers, notify any such grantee which has not begun to perform, or has ceased to perform, any such obligation that the property so conveyed will revert to the United Slates; and if such grantee does not begin or resume the performance of such obligation within a period of six months from the date of such notice, such property shall, upon the expiration of such period, revert to the United States without further notice or demand or any suit or proceeding. The United States reserves the right to resume ownership, possession, and control, for Government purposes, of any of the property so conveyed, at any time and without the consent of the grantee. Sec. 3. Lighthouse officers, etc., entitled to benefits at other than Public Health Service hospitals, etc.
(a)That hereafter officers and employees of the Lighthouse Service entitled to the benefits of the Public Health Service shall also be entitled to such benefits, without charge, at oilier than hospitals or stations of the Public Health Service, under regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce.
(b)Public Health medical, etc., services to officers and crews of lighthouse vessels. The Public Health Service is authorized, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury, to provide medical, surgical, and hospital services and supplies for the officers and crews of vessels of the Lighthouse Service, including when practicable the detail of medical officers on such vessels. Sec. 4. Vessel personnel, keepers, etc., may purchase commissary, etc., supplies, at Army, etc., rates. Hereafter officers and crews of vessels of the Lighthouse Service and light keepers and depot keepers of the Lighthouse Service shall be permitted to purchase commissary and quartermaster supplies from the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps at the price charged officers anti enlisted men of the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps. Sec. 5. Sale permitted of lighthouse apparatus. Hereafter the Commissioner of Lighthouses is authorized, under regulations approved by the Secretary of Commerce, to sell apparatus or equipment manufactured by or in use in the Lighthouse Receipts credited to Lighthouse Service.Service, which is not readily procurable in the open market. The money received from any such sale shall be deposited in the Treasury to the credit of the current appropriation for general expenses, Lighthouse Service. Sec. 6. Post lantern lights authorized on Allegheny River, Pa., and Rock River, Ill. Hereafter post lantern lights and other aids to navigation may be established and maintained, in the discretion of the Commissioner of Lighthouses, out of the annual appropriations to be made for the Lighthouse Service, on the Allegheny River, in the State of Pennsylvania, and on the Rock River, in the State of Illinois. Sec. 7. Retirement provisions applicable to designated officials. Hereafter the provisions of section 6 of the Act entitled “An Act to authorize aids to navigation and for other works in the Lighthouse Service, and for other purposes,” approved June 20, 1918. as amended, shall apply to the Commissioner of Lighthouses, Vol. 10. p. 608; Vol. 41, p. 1417; Vol. 43, p. 1281.the Deputy Commissioner of Lighthouses, the Chief Constructing Engineer, and the Superintendent of Naval Construction of the Lighthouse Service. Approved, May 22, 1926.