Proclamation 447—Enlargement of the Big Horn Forest Reserve, Wyoming

Whereas it is provided by section twenty-four of the act of Congress, approved March 3, 1891, entitled, "An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for other purposes," "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 4, 1897 entitled, "An act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898, 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 lines of such serve, or may vacate altogether any order creating such reserve;"

And whereas the public lands in the State of Wyoming, within the limits hereinafter described, are in part covered with timber, and it appears that the public good would be promoted by setting apart and reserving said lands as a public reservation;

Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested by the aforesaid acts of Congress, do hereby make known and proclaim that the boundary lines of the Forest Reservation in the State of Wyoming, known as "The Big Horn Forest Reserve," created by proclamation of February 22, 1897, are hereby so changed and enlarged as to include all those certain tracts, pieces or parcels of land lying and being situate in the State of Wyoming, and within the boundaries particularly described as follows, to wit:

Beginning at the southeast corner of township forty-eight (48) north, range eighty-four (84) west, sixth (6th) principal meridian, Wyoming; thence northerly to the northeast corner of said township; thence easterly along the twelfth (12th) standard parallel north to the south east corner of section thirty-three (33), township forty-nine (49) north, range eighty-three (83) west; thence northerly along the section line to the northeast corner of section four (4), township fifty (50) north, range eighty-three (83) west; thence westerly to the northeast corner of section two (2), township fifty (50) north, range eighty-four (84) west, thence northerly along the section line, allowing for the proper offset on the thirteenth (13th) standard parallel north, to the northeast corner of section fourteen (14), township fifty-three (53) north, range eighty-four (84) west, thence westerly to the northeast corner of section fourteen (14), township fifty-three (53) north, range eighty-five (85) west; thence northerly to the northeast corner of section two (2), said township; thence westerly to the northeast corner of section two (2), township fifty-three (53) north, range eighty-six (86) west; thence northerly to the northeast corner of section two (2), township fifty-four (54) north, range eighty-six (86) west; thence westerly to the southeast corner of township fifty-five (55) north, range eighty-seven (87) west; thence northerly to the northeast corner of said township; thence westerly to the northwest corner of said township; thence southerly to the southwest corner of said township; thence westerly to the northwest corner of township fifty-four (54) north, range eighty-eight (88) west; thence northerly along the range line, allowing for the proper offset on the fourteenth (14th) standard parallel north, to the point of intersection with the boundary line between the States of Wyoming and Montana; thence westerly along said state boundary line to its intersection with the range line between ranges ninety-two (92) west, and ninety-three (93) west; thence southerly along said range line, allowing for the proper offset on the fourteenth (14th) standard parallel north, to the northwest corner of township fifty-four (54) north, range ninety-two (92) west; thence easterly to the northeast corner of said township; thence southerly to the southeast corner of said township; thence easterly to the northeast corner of township fifty-three (53) north, range ninety-one (91) west; thence southerly to the southeast corner of said township; thence easterly along the thirteenth (13th) standard parallel north to the northwest corner of township fifty-two (52) north, range eighty-eight (88) west; thence southerly along the range line to the northwest corner of township fifty (50) north, range eighty-eight (88) west; thence easterly to the northwest corner of section three (3), said township; thence southerly along the section line to the southwest corner of section thirty-four (34), township forty-nine (49) north, range eighty-eight (88) west; thence easterly along the twelfth (12th) standard parallel north to the northwest corner of township forty-eight (48) north, range eighty-seven (87) west; thence southerly to the southwest corner of said township; thence easterly along the township line to the southeast corner of township forty-eight (48) north, range eighty-four (84) west, the place of beginning.

Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all lands which may have been, prior to the date hereof, embraced in any legal entry or covered by any lawful filing duly of record in the proper United States Land Office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant to law, and the statutory period within which to make entry or filing of record has not expired; Provided, that this exception shall not continue to apply to any particular tract of land unless the entryman, settler or claimant continues to comply with the law under which the entry, filing or settlement was made.

Warning is hereby expressly given to all persons not to make settlement upon the tract of land reserved by this proclamation.

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 29th day of June, A.D. 1900, and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-fourth.

WILLIAM MCKINLEY

By the President:

JOHN HAY,

Secretary of State.