VIEWS OF MR. HAUGEN. 



Before entering upon such a gigantic scheme as is contemplated in 

 the proposed bill, one which in the end in all probabilities will involve 

 the expenditure of not millions but billions of dollars, Congress should 

 have detailed and accurate information in order that the matter might 

 be carefully, fully, and intelligently considered. It should at least 

 have data, or reliable estimates, as to the probable cost, the number of 

 acres that should be purchased for the preservation of the forests 

 within the watersheds of the navigable rivers not only in the White 

 Mountains and the Southern Appalachian Mountains, but over the 

 whole country. The only official information available at the present 

 time is that obtained under the act of Congress of March 4. 1907, 

 which " requires the Secretary of Agriculture to investigate the water- 

 sheds of the Southern Appalachian and White Mountains and to 

 report to Congress the area and natural conditions of said watersheds, 

 the price at which the same can be purchased by the Government, and 

 the advisability of the Government purchasing and setting apart the 

 same as national forest reserves for the purpose of conserving and 

 regulating the water supply and flow of said streams in the interest 

 of agriculture, water power, and navigation.' 1 



In this report the Secretary recommends that the Government 

 acquire an area of about 6,000,000 acres at once, and states that an 

 area of about 75,000,000 acres will have to be given protection. The 

 Secretary has this to say (p. 32) : 



It is an enormous undertaking to bring this immense area of 75,000,000 acres under 

 proper conditions of protection and use. If the Government owned the land the 

 problem would be a comparatively simple one under our present forest policv. 



I conclude from this that it is necessary to purchase the 75,000,000 

 acres to begin with. As to the method of acquirement and cost of 

 lands the Secretary has this to say : 



WHITE MOUNTAINS. 



The timber lands of the White Mountains are in the main held by a few large com- 

 panies, nearly all of whom are cutting extensively on the spruce stands for pulp or 

 lumber manufacture. The plants of some of these companies represent an investment 

 of several hundred thousand dollars. Manifestly, in negotiating for these lands, in 

 so far as they bear uncut timber, the value of the plant must enter into the consid- 

 eration. In addition, the stumpage value of spruce ranges from $4.50 to $6 or <j>7 per 

 thousand. This would give the best stands a value of $75 to $125 or more per acre. 



* * >* ' -X- * * 



i 



The hard woods of the White Mountains, of which there is a large area, have not 

 the value of spruce, nor are they as yet being extensively cut. Their stumpage value 

 is from $2.50 to $4 per thousand, depending upon location, stand, and quality. 



The cut-over lands have a value ranging from $1 to $6 or $8 per acre, depending 

 upon the condition of the timber growth upon them. 



The question of the acquirement of timber lands by the Government has been con- 

 sidered with the principal owners of the region. While unwilling to dispose of their 



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