The Department of the Interior today invited the submission of proposals for leasing and development of three separate parcels of undeveloped Indian land comprising nearly 13,000 acres with a frontage of about 10 miles along the Colorado River in the States of Arizona, California and Nevada.
The tracts being offered are within the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation about 10 miles north of Needles, Calif., and 66 miles west of Kingman, Ariz. The lands have excellent possibilities for recreational, commercial, business and residential development not only because of the frontage on the river but also because of the proximity of major population centers in the three States.
The lease or leases to be granted will be for 25 years with an option for 25-year renewal. Interested parties are invited to write the Superintendent, Colorado River Indian Agency, Parker, Arizona. He will provide full details and "a copy of the lease form to be used.
Each proposal must be accompanied by the following:
- A preliminary planned schedule for general development of the areas, including annual development expenditures for at least the first five. (5) years of the term of the lease.
- A proposal for the payment of a fixed annual ground rental for each specified area. Only ground rental commensurate with a fair return on the present capital value of the land will be considered.
- A proposal for the payment of a percentage of the gross receipts as defined in the lease form, from all operations on or involving the leased area, including but not limited to hotels, motels, apartment buildings, trailer or mobile homes, marinas, stores and other retail establishments, and all entertainment, food and service enterprises.
- A proposal for the payment of a percentage of the rental that may be received for residences or lots for residences, apart from those in No. 3 above.
Bids will be received at the Colorado River Indian Agency until 10 a.m., May 25, 1961. Each bid must be accompanied by a cashier's check or certified check made payable to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the amount of the bidder's proposed ground rental for the first year.
Offering of the Fort Mojave Indian lands for long-term leasing was made possible by the Act of August 9, 1955 (69 stat. 539) which authorized leasing of Indian lands for terms up to 25 years with a possibility of a 25-year renewal. Under previous law such leases were generally limited to a 5-year term.
