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Show XI-24 UPDATING THE HOOVER DAM DOCUMENTS UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240 1112 Memorandum June 3, 1974 To: Secretary of the Interior From: Solicitor Subject: Location of the western boundary of the Hay and Wood Reserve portion of the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation. On March 8, 1974, I met with a delegation from the Fort Mojave Tribe who brought to my attention a long standing dispute over the exact location of the western boundary of that portion of their reservation which had originally been the hay and wood reserve for the military post at Camp Mojave. The details of the dispute are set out fully in the attached memorandum to me from the Associate Solicitor for Indian Affairs. Attorneys in the other divisions of my office have reviewed this dispute and the memorandum from the Associate Solicitor. I have also personally reviewed the matter and discussed it with all the attorneys involved. I am convinced that this Department as a matter of law should acknowledge and declare that the correct western boundary of the Hay and Wood Reserve portion of the Fort Mohave Reservation is most accurately reflected by the courses, distances and acreage descriptions contained in the plats and notes of survey which accompanied the Executive Order of March 30, 1870. In order to finally resolve this dispute, it will be necessary to declare null and void a previous 1928 resurvey of this boundary by Sidney Blout of the General Land Office. This 1928 resurvey was approved by the General Land Office in 1931. In 1957, the Secretary approved a tribal constitution which stated that the Hay and Wood Reserve contained 9114.81 acres, which in turn conforms to the courses and distances and acreage description in the 1870 Executive Order. It is likely that the Director, Bureau of Land Management, may also have to take some other actions to remove any cloud on the right of the Fort Mojave Tribe to use and occupy the area included within the area described by the courses and distances referred to above. In the event you concur, a memorandum to the Director, Bureau of Land Management which would accomplish those results is attached for your signature. /S/KENT FRIZZELL Solicitor BIA, Area Director, Phoenix Regional Solicitor, Sacramento Field Solicitor, Phoenix |