The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1911-03-30
EASTERN
FOREST LANDS
RESERVATION Commission
Created Under The Weeks Law
and They Are Ready to
Begin the Work

Washington, March 27.-The
department of agriculture an
nounces, through a circular which
is just coming from the press,
that it is ready to begin opera
tions looking to the purchase of
land by the National Forest Res
ervation Com mission created I'M
der the Weeks law.
This law was passed with spe-
cial reference to the creation of
national forests in the Appalach-
ian and White Mountains. Under
it the secretary of agriculture is
to examine, locate and recommend
to the commission for purchase
such lands as in his judgment
may be necessary for regulating
the flow of Manageable streams,
The circular which is now being
\ printed is intended to give infor-
nation to the public as to where
and what kinds of land is wanted.
Owners of land the purchase of
which will be considered by the
government are expected on the
basis of this information to make
known to the forest service, which
which will conduct the work for
the department of agriculture,
their desire to sell. Copies of
the circulars may be obtained by
applying to the forest service.
The law is not restricted to
particular regions, except that
lands may be bought only i'll the
states whose legislatures have
consented to the acquisition of
land by the United States for the
purpose of preserving the naviga-
bility of streams. The states
which have already taken the
necessary action are Maine, New
Hampshire, Maryland, Virginia,
West Virginia, North Carolina,
Tennessee, South Carolina and
Georgia.
The first lands to be examined
for purchase will be in the Appa-
lachian and White noun tains,
which because of their altitude,
steepness and lack of protection
are in class by themselves. The
area which is believed to need
protection is much larger than
the government can purchase
Much difference exists, however,
between different parts of the
region. Careful examinations
which have been going on for the
last ten years have proved that
the conditions which affect
streamflow to an extreme extent
are to be found in relatively linn
tied areas, which are scattered
more or less widely. By careful
selection it is believed that much
can be done for the permanent
improvement of the watersheds
with the purchase of relatively
small part of the land.
A blank form for the offer of
land accompanies the circular.
Additional copies of this blank
form may be had by writing the
forest service at Washington. ] he
kinds of land which will be con-
sidered for purchase, if the lie
within the designated area, are
set forth by the circular as fpl
lows:
Timbcred lands may be bought
either with the timber standing on
them or with reservation by the
owner of the right to cut the timber
under certain rules to provide for
perpetuation Of the forest. These
rules will form a part of the agree
ment for the purchase of the land.
Since, however, the government can
not pay high prices, it is not regard
ed as probable that much land bear
ing a heavy stand of merchantable
timber can be bought. Culled and
cut-over lands may be bought, as
well as land covered with brush
which is useful for watershed protec-
ton, burned land and abandoned
farm land, whether cleared or par
italy or wholly covered by young