REPORT OF THE FORESTER. 



189 



A numbei- of small exchanges were effected with private owners of 

 land within the National Forests under special acts of Congress. 

 General legislation enabling the Forest Service to make exchanges 

 and consolidations based upon equal value, where such exchanges 

 would be in the public interest, is exceedingly desirable. 



ACQUISITION OF LANDS. 



On recommendation of the Forest Service, the National Forest 

 Reservation Commission approved for purchase during the year, 

 under the act of March 1, 1911 (36 Stat, 961), 175,463 acres in the 

 southern Appalachians and White Momitains. The total approved 

 and being acquired is now 1,455,563 acres, of which 947,197.50 acres 

 have been acquired. On 195,848.62 acres condemnation proceedings 

 are pending. The remainder awaits the completion of survey or title 

 examination. These lands are being placed under administration and 

 their resources developed as rapidly as they are acquired. 



For the continuation of the purchase policy during the fiscal year 

 1918, and mitil expended, $2,000,000 is still available. 



COOPERATION WITH STATES. 



The past year was the seventh in which cooperation has been of- 

 fered the States in protecting the forested watersheds of navigable 

 streams from fire. To secure such cooperation a State must have pro- 

 vided by law for a system of forest fire protection and must expend 

 in the same year at least as much as the Federal Government. The 

 appropriation of $100,000 was apportioned among 21 States, to be 

 used chiefly for the hire of men to patrol the woods. 



The allotments for the calendar year 1917 and expenditures, both 

 Federal and State, for the fiscal year ended Jmie 30, 1917, are shown 

 in the following table : 



Table 15. — Allotments of Federal appropriation for protecting forested water- 

 sheds of navigahle streams from fire, with Federal and State expenditures. 



This work has resulted in a very large amount of forest protection 

 not only by States but also by private owners, whose cooperation 

 likewise is sought. Expenditures by private owners probably exceed 

 those by the States and Government combined. 



