Chamberlain–Ferris Act facts for kids

The Chamberlain–Ferris Act was an important law passed by the United States Congress on June 9, 1916. This law took back about 2.8 million acres (11,331 square kilometers) of land from a railroad company. This land had originally been given to the Southern Pacific Transportation Company (which took over from the Oregon and California Railroad) in California and Oregon.

The Act put these lands under the control of the General Land Office. This office was then supposed to sell the land and its timber (trees) at public auctions. These lands became known as the Oregon and California Railroad Revested Lands, or simply the O&C Lands.

What Was the Chamberlain–Ferris Act?

The Chamberlain–Ferris Act was a special law. It aimed to take back a lot of land that had been given to a railroad company. This land was located in the states of Oregon and California.

Why Was the Land Taken Back?

Years before, the U.S. government had given millions of acres to railroad companies. This was to help them build new railroads. The idea was that the railroads would help develop the country.

However, the Southern Pacific Company, which owned much of this land, did not follow all the rules. They were supposed to sell the land to settlers at fair prices. But they often did not. So, the government decided to take some of the land back.

Who Created This Law?

The law was named after the two politicians who helped create it. They were Senator George E. Chamberlain from Oregon and Representative Scott Ferris from Oklahoma. Both were members of the Democratic Party. They worked together to get this important law passed in Congress.

What Happened After the Act?

The plan to sell the O&C Lands through auctions did not work out as well as hoped. Many acres of land remained unsold.

The 1937 Act: A New Plan

Because the first plan didn't fully succeed, a new law was passed in 1937. This was called the Oregon and California Revested Lands Sustained Yield Management Act. This new law changed how the O&C Lands were managed.

The 1937 Act gave the United States Secretary of the Interior the power to manage the land differently. Instead of just selling it, the goal became "sustained yield." This means managing the forests so that trees can be harvested regularly without running out. It's like harvesting a crop, but for trees.

This new law also created a special group called the O&C administration. Their job was to manage these lands carefully.

Who Manages the O&C Lands Today?

Today, the O&C Lands are still managed by the U.S. government. As of 2006, about 2 million acres (8,094 square kilometers) are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Another 500,000 acres (2,023 square kilometers) are managed by the United States Forest Service. Both agencies work to protect and manage these important public lands.