Nezvs and Notes. 169 



The Week's bill initiating the purchase of forest reservations in 

 the Appalachian range and the White Mountains by the Federal 

 Government has been enacted into law — a new stage in the 

 development of forest policies in the United States. The first one 

 million dollars provided for the purchase in 1910 has of course 

 lapsed, but $2,000,000 are available before July i, of the present 

 year; the purchase to involve in all about $10,000,000. 



We consider this radical change of attitude between federal and 

 state authority so important, that we print the act in full. 



H. R. 1 1798. Appalachian and White Mountain National 

 Forest Bill passed Senate February 15, 191 1. 



Section i. Be it enacted, etc., That the consent of the Con- 

 gress of the United States is hereby given to each of the several 

 States of the Union to enter into any agreement or compact, not 

 in conflict with any law of the United States, with any other 

 State or States for the purpose of conserving the forests and the 

 water supply of the States entering into such agreement or 

 compact. 



Sec. 2. That the sum of $200,000 is hereby appropriated and 

 made available until expended, out of any moneys in the National 

 Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to enable the Secretary of 

 Agriculture to cooperate with any State or group of States, when 

 requested to do so, in the protection from fire of the forested 

 watersheds of navigable streams ; and the Secretary of Agricul- 

 ture is hereby authorized, and on such conditions as he deems 

 wise, to stipulate and agree with any State or group of States to 

 cooperate in the organization and maintenance of a system of 

 fire protection on any private or State forest lands within such 

 State or States and situated upon the watershed of a navigable 

 river: Provided, That no such stipulation or agreement shall be 

 made with any State which has not provided by law for a system 

 of forest fire protection : Provided further. That in no case shall 

 the amount expended in any State exceed in any fiscal year the 

 amount appropriated by that State for the same purpose during 

 the same fiscal year. 



Sec 3. That there is hereby appropriated, for the fiscal year 

 ending June 30, 1910, the sum of $1,000,000, and for each fiscal 

 year thereafter a sum not to exceed $2,000,000 for use in the 

 examination, survey, and acquirement of lands located on the 

 headwaters of navigable streams or those which are being or 

 which may be developed for navigable purposes : Provided, That 

 the provisions of this section shall expire by limitation on the 30th 

 day of June, 191 5. 



Sec 4. That a commission, to be known as the National 

 Forest Reservation Commission, consisting of the Secretary of 



