Proclamation—Declaring "Mound City Group" at Camp Sherman Military Reservation, Chillicothe, Ohio, a National Monument

Whereas, by Section 9 of the Act of Congress approved August 9, 1921 (42 Stat. 147-150), the Director of the Veterans' Bureau, subject to the general direction of the President, was authorized to utilize, inter alia, existing facilities of the War Department in connection with the care, rehabilitation and return to civil employment of disabled persons discharged from the military or naval forces of the United States;

And whereas, the President, at the request of the Director of the Veterans' Bureau and upon the recommendation of the Secretary of War, assigned to the Veterans' Bureau for use in carrying out the provisions of the said Act of Congress, the United States Military Reservation known as Camp Sherman, in the State of Ohio;

And whereas, that part of the said Reservation upon which is situated the famous prehistoric group of mounds known as the "Mound City Group" is no longer required for the use of the Veterans' Bureau;

And whereas, by Section 2 of the Act of Congress approved June 8, 1906 (34 Stat. 225), the President is authorized "in his discretion, to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United States to be national monuments, and may reserve as a part thereof parcels of land, the limits of wihich in all cases shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected

And whereas, the said "Mound City Group" of prehistoric mounds located within the Camp Sherman Military Reservation, Ohio, is an object of great historic and scientific interest and should be permanently preserved and protected from all depredations and from all changes that will to any extent mar or jeopardize their historic value;

Now, Therefore, I, Warren G. Harding, President of the United States of America, under authority of the said Act of Congress of August 9, 1921, do hereby return to the custody and control of the War Department the lands upon which are located the "Mound City Group" of prehistoric mounds situated within the Camp Sherman Military Reservation at Chillicothe, Ohio, and under the authority of the said Act of June 8, 1906, do hereby reserve the lands so returned as a national monument site and declare and proclaim the said group of prehistoric mounds to be a national monument, the lands so returned to the War Department and reserved for said national monument site being more fully described as follows, viz:

All of Sections N and O, bounded on the north by East Liverpool Street, on the east by the Scioto River, on the west by Columbus Avenue, and on the south by Portsmouth Street, containing fifty-seven (57) acres, more or less.

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 second day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and forty-seventh.

WARREN G. HARDING

By the President:
CHARLES E. HUGHES, Secretary of State.