The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-12-17
CONSERVATION And
SUbMARGINAL Land
REPORTS SUBMITTED
Government Urges to Acquire
Acres Poorly Adapted to
Agriculture
HOPE TO COORDINATE WORK
No Mention Made OF Missouri
River Diversion; Request
Red River Survey

JlSut q y pcIm1ueUt W6JSI COGlS6IVAs
ton policy for the region Of the upper
Mississippi and Red river Of the north
and continuation on . permanent
basis Of the program for retiring non-
productive lands from cultivation were
recommendations made to President
Roosevelt Monday by the national
resources board.
The report OH productive lands
urged cooperation between the states
and the federal government in &C.
curing forest areas which are clear.
" unsuited for private ownership" and
convert them into recreation regions.
parks and Wild life refugees.
This report, . general discussion
which will later be supplemented by
more specific recommendations, esti-
mates that 100000 acres Of sub
marginal land Is 50 poorly adapted to
farming that only extreme poverty
and wretchedness" are In store for the
inhabitants. Conditions were held 20
deplorable as to justify = program Of
land purchase and removal, Ut least
part, Of the population to more fav-
orable environment.
Westesn Dakotas In Picture
A map accompanying the report
pictures vast acreages In northern
and central Wisconsin, northeastern
Minnesota and the western DakotaS In
this classification. The legend de-
scribes these as ''areas in which It ap-
pears desirable TO encourage perma-
nent retirement Of . substantial part
Of the arabic farming and develop
constructive use Of the land not to be
in farms"
The board recommended retirement
OF undesirable farming lands ct the
rate Of about 100000 acres Q year.
The present rate Of acquisition was
placed ut from IS to IS an acre.
The New Deals efforts to preserve
farming top soil by erosion control
were held to be valuable, but made
quate, and the report recommended
coordinated mobilization Of state. ma
tional and local efforts to control
erosion.
Such q policy, 1t said, should aim
at the establishment Of erosion con-
troll measures on all Of the most &C.
rious areas within 10 years and effec-
tive checking Of erosion In those areas
within 20 years"
Among specific recommendations
for policy on land and forests were:
Coordination OF existing federal
land programs. including subsistence
homesteads, rural rehabilitation. and
reclamation.
Provide credit for m adequate sys-
tenn Of land settlement, free from re-
strictions inherent In funds provided
primarily for relief purposes"
discourage MigrationS
Discourage migrations Of unemploy-
ed from urban areas into commercaal
farming.
Make permanent the policy Of int
gration Of agricultural and industrial
employment Of establishment Of homes
for workers employed in non-agricul-
tural occupations where they may
produce part Of their living. Broaden
this policy to include encouraging Of
industries to locate IN rural areas now
seriously deficient In sources Of In
come; and reconstruction Of existing
rural industrial communities, (which
under laissez faire policies took the
form Of wretched homes huddled
around . mine or factory"
Reconsideration and more sctenttfic
leadtustment Of tax burdens on forest
lands.
Public loans TO private forest In
dustries 1t low interest rates. on con- !!
dition that operations be adjusted to
slstained-yield management and rea-
sonable safeguarding Of other social
interest In the forest.
Government sid In the construction
Of forest.road systems for fire pro-
lection and for public travel.
Public aid In fire protection and the |
control Of insect and disease out
breaks.
Reduction Of the excessive amount
OF timber going to market.
Public acquisition or exchange Of
forest hand and timber TO aid owners |
who can benefit by liquidating part Of
their holdings and blocking up the re-
mainder through exchange.
No Mention o. Diversion
In it, report on development Of per-
manent water conservation, the board |
urged that studies be launched i'm.
mediately Of the Red River water
supply and flood control project II
Minnesota, North Dakota and 0outh |
Dakota.
No mention Is made In the section |
dealing with water resources Of the
proposal to control flood waters Of
the Missouri river by diversion through |
Devils Lake. n. D. More specific rec
concentrations are expected In later |
report Of the water planning commit
tee.
The objectives Of the water plan |
ming committee, Is set forth IN this
first report. were defined e follows:
To develop more productive uses Of
water resources-power, water supply, |
CONTINUED On Psgs Two)