The Sauk Centre herald., 1929-12-26
Reservation Commission
Outlines Land Policy
Says Poor Use of Forest Areas
Menaces Financial and POlit-
ical Integrity

In the last fiscal year a larger
total acreage of forest land was
recommended for purchase by the
Federal Government than in any
preceding year, says the National
Forest Reservation Commission in
its annual report just submitted
to Congress. During the year the
Commission approved the pur-
chase of 464,177 acres, bringing
the total approved for acquisition
by the Federal Government up to
the close of the last fiscal year
to 3,3605,185 acres, located in Is
states.
The Commission outlines a def
mite long-term policy in carrying
on the program of Federal acqui-
sition of forest lands. The pur-
chase as rapidly as possible Of
some 6,173,50O acres of land chief
ly valuable for forest purposes
within the existing system of pur-
chase units is recommended to-
gether with the establishment of
additional purchase areas involv-
ing some 100000 acres. The Com
mission also recommends the es-
tablishment bv Congress of a de-
finite fiscal policy for carrying out
this program bv authorizing ap-
preparations of $5,0OO.0O0 per year
over a 10-year period beginning
with the fiscal year 1882. -
The report was submitted to
CONGRESS bv the acting chairman,
Secretary OF the Interior Ray Ly-
man Wilbur. Other members OF
the Commission are the Secretary
of War and the Secretary of Agri-
culture, Senators Keys, of New
HAMPSHIRE and Harris, of Georgia.
and Representatives Hawley, of
Oregon and Aswell. of louisiana.
John e. Burch is secretary.
Obiectives in the acquisition of
forest land by the Federal Govern
ment are summarized by the Com
mission as follows:
1. Adequate protection of i'm
portant watersheds affecting the
navigability of streams.
2. Provisions for future timber
supplies directly under National
control to the extent necessary to
safeguard public interests, incud-
ing requirements for National de-
fense.
3. Promotion of reforestation and
timber production on forest lands
other than those the acquisition of
which is contemplated by creating
means for (a) development of the
principles and practices of silvicul-
: tural management necessary for
successful timber growing in the
various forest regions and forest
types and on the various forest
soils of the country; (b) large
scale demonstration of the appli-
cation of such principles and prac-
tices; and (c) constructive par
ticipation in the more expensive,
difficult, and problematical phases
of forest regeneration.
The acquisition policy recog-
nizes as essential that Federal and
State forest programs be fully CO.
ordinated, that Federal purchases
must not conflict with the best in
terest Of local political units or be
unduly burdensome upon them,
and that Federal acquisition
should not enter fields where a
reasonable prospect exists that
State or private initiative will
take care Of the essential needs.
Although TIE law imposes no
geographical limitations upon Fed
eral forest acquisition, the pur-
chase program is confined to the
eastern half of the United States.
In this region, generally speaking
all but negligible percentage Of
virgin timber has been cut as well
as large part Of the mature Sec
od-griwth aturally although 1t is
capable Of yielding more under bet
ter management, part is restocking
only partially and on many areas q