Proclamation 758

By the President of the United States of America.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, it is necessary for the public welfare that a strip of land lying along the boundary line between the United States and the Republic of Mexico be reserved from the operation of the public land laws and kept free from obstruction as a protection against the smuggling of goods between the United States and said Republic;

Now, therefore, I, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States, do hereby declare, proclaim and make known that there are hereby reserved from entry, settlement or other form of appropriation under the public land laws and set apart as a public reservation, all public lands within sixty feet of the international boundary between the United States and the Republic of Mexico, within the State of California and the Territories of Arizona and New Mexico; and where any river or stream forms any part of said international boundary line, this reservation shall be construed and taken as extending to and including all public lands belonging to the United States which lie within sixty feet of the margin of such river or stream.

Excepting from the force and effect of this proclamation all lands which are at this date embraced in any level entry or covered by any lawful filing, selection or rights of way duly of record in the proper United States Land Office, or upon which any valid settlement has been made pursuant to law, an the statutory period within which to make entry or filing of record has not expired; and also excepting all lands which at this date are embraced within any withdrawal or reservation for any use or purpose to which this reservation for customs purposes is repugnant; Provided, that these exceptions 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, or unless the reservation or withdrawal to which this reservation is inconsistent continues in force; Provided Further, that the said strips, tracts, or parcels of land, reserved as aforesaid, may be used for public highways but for no other purpose whatever, so long as the reservation of same under this proclamation shall continue in force.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my band and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington this 27th day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seven, and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and thirty-first.

Theodore Roosevelt

By the President:

Elihu Root,

Secretary of State.