The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-01-11
NEED so YEARS
TO LIFT FACE
OF UNCLE SAM
Resources Board Receives
Report on Altering Ma
tons Land.

81 rcupps-Howord Arrsp0pcr AVi0Hce
WASHINGTON. Jan. IA vast
30-yesr program to lift Uncle
Sans face By altering the use Of
hundreds Of millions Of acres Of
land vas made public today BY the
land planning committee Of the Ma
tional Resources Board.
The report, cited by the Presi-
dent IN his address to Congress as
q part Of the pattern for recovery
projects. proposes the use Of billions
Of dollars for land acquisition L
it one Of four studies on which the
resources board based its recent
many-sided report
Planning for a nearly stabilized
population of I39 millions in 1860
the committee has found that for
best use Of the 1903 100000 acres in
the United States before 1860 ne
should.
Add So 10 ~ millions Of acres Of
reCTeatiOnaI lands and game ref
uges.
Add Is million acres to forest
lands. besides providing for Federal
and state Ownerships Of an addl-
tional l78 million acres.
Land Transfer Favored
Retire Is million acres of sub
marginal land over a period Of IS
wears at an estimated cost Of 545.-
100000 annually. The land might
be transferred TO forest, park or
game refuge use.
Add 81 million acres lin addition
10 making up for lands retlredl to
the area under cultivation, through
irrigation. drainage. blowing Of
pastures and clearing new lands. in
order to supply food for the 1860
population.
Increase grazing lands by II mil
lion acres.
Reduce the acreage of little or no
use, through irrigation and drain
age. BY at lea4 % million acres.
Increase Indian lands by 25 mil
lion acres.
Stop erosion on Us million acres
Of misUsed land.
Prevent the misuse of AIS million
acres Of range land now subjected
to depletion Of cover. erosion ard
economic instability by private ex-
plOltation.
Fewer Babies. Less PsSturage
The boards plan for land use is
based on requirements anticipated
IN Scripps Foundation studies of
population trends and in studies by
Thompson and WhelptOn indicat-
ing that. with births now deCreaS-
ing 100000 annually. America will
reach a nearly stable population IN
1850. For the present. population
Is increasing because of an added
fve-year life expectancy that off,
sets the declining birth rate.
The fact that this circumstance
is resulting in a greater proportion
Of old people is taken into con-
SIderatiOn in the allotment of land
TO paSturage Children drink more
milk than adults. Hence. with an
Older population in 1860. less land
viii be required to supply paSturage
for cows.
Similarly with the planning of
forest. reCreational and grazing
lands. the probable demands of the
1860 population have been con-
sidered and q detailed plan for
state and Federal acquisition
mapped
Would Reverse Policy
The whole program. if carried
out. would mean a complete re-
versal of the nations land policy
In the past, 1t has been encourage
ment of the most rapid settlement
and private development. Under
the land use committee plan. every
Governmental function would be
brought into play. If possible. to
control the use of land for public
welfare rather than private ad-
vantage.
The land acquisition program is
based on a charge of misuse by
private owners of forests and graz
ing areas. Forests have been cut
over and abandoned 10 the hazards
of fire-with taxes permitted 10 re-
main permanently delinquent -
while the operators moved on TO
strip other areas.
Three additional reports by The
committees of the board are 10 fol-
low.