ACQUIRING LAND FOR PROTECTION OF WATERSHEDS, ETC. 17 



ing a total of 2,157,000 acres. The proportion in which this falls in the five water 

 systems included is as follows: 



Acres, 



Connecticut : 429, 000 



Merrimac 264, 000 



Saco : 332, 000 



Androscoggin 1, 002, 000 



Kennebec 130, 000 



Total 2, 157, 000 



There is also shown on this map an area embracing only the four main ranges of 

 the White Mountains. A few thousand acres of this area lie in Maine. All the rest 

 is in New Hampshire. This principal White Mountain area covers 668,000 acres, 

 and, considering all economic points of view, is the most important part of the region, 



TREATMENT OF THE REGION. 



The areas indicated in the preceding section, 23,310,000 acres in the Southern 

 Appalachians and 2,157,000 acres in the White Mountains, do not include all the 

 mountainous timber lands of the Appalachians. As is discussed under the heading 

 "Importance of Appalachian forests for hard-wood supply," there are probably 

 75,000,000 acres in this mountain system more important for timber production than 

 for any other purpose. This area will have to be given protection before the hard- 

 wood supply is on a safe footing and before the watersheds of the important streams 

 are adequately safeguarded. 



If it is a wise policy for the Government to control by purchase or 

 agreement with owners such large areas of land, and in addition 

 thereto extensive areas included in this bill, but not included in the 

 report of the Secretary of Agriculture, then it should be undertaken 

 on a scale commensurate with its proposed final extent, and for which 

 appropriations many times the present amount will be required. 



This bill if enacted into law will inaugurate a system of new forest 

 reserves whose final limits will include tne lands the administration of 

 which by the National Government may be said to conserve and regu- 

 late stream flow and assist in maintaining the navigability of navigable 

 rivers. In my opinion the proposed appropriation of $19,000,000 is 

 sufficient only to make a beginning and to commit the Government to 

 the policy. It initiates one of the most extensive and momentous 

 movements ever begun in this country by legislative action. It seems 

 to me there of necessit}- should be required prior thereto an exceed- 

 ingly thoroughgoing and exhaustive investigation by competent author 

 ity of all the problems involved, for the information of the country 

 and of Congress, and if thereafter the proposed polic^y is considered 

 wise and within the powers of Congress, a measure should be prepared 

 that will present the matter in all its magnificence to the country and 

 provide adequate appropriations for executing the policy, and granting 

 all necessary authority therefor. 



Does the present bill authorize the commission to use the power of 

 eminent domain to obtain from unwilling owners the lands deemed 

 necessary? If not, is not the omission of such authority an error? 



I fear, also, that when the Government goes into the market to 

 purchase from private parties the lands for the new forest reserves 

 great difficulties will be encountered, arising out of speculations in 

 these lands. 



The committee have held many hearings on this subject, the net 

 result of which discloses the lack of accurate and adequate data. For 

 the purpose of securing carefully collected and scientifically presented 



H. Rep. 2027, 60-2 2 



