24 ACQUIRING LAND FOB PROTECTION OF WATERSHEDS, ETC. 



was to involve the expenditure of many millions of dollar*. It does not indicate the 

 extent of the navigable portions of the rivers whose navigability it is desired to pro- 

 tect nor the value of the forests upon them. It presents no data showing to what 

 extent, if at all, the volume or the steadiness of stream flow has been influenced by 

 the destruction of the forests. It shows in only the most general way the location, 

 area, and probable cost of the lands it is proposed to purchase. 



While it recommends (p. 37) that the Government acquire an area of 600,000 acres 

 in the White Mountain? and 5,000,000 acres in the southern Appalachian Mountains, 

 it states also (p. 32) that an area of 75,000,000 acres will have to be given protection 

 "before the watersheds and important streams are adequately safeguarded," suggest- 

 ing the thought that while less than 7,000,000 acres are to be purchased at once, 

 75,000,000 acres must ultimately be acquired if the watersheds of the important 

 streams ar.e to-be ''adequately safeguarded." Your committee is of the opinion that 

 if a commission of ten members of the legislative body, responsible to their constit- 

 uents and to the country for whatever report they may make, is directed to investigate 

 the subject, the information presented in its report will be sufficiently comprehensive 

 and exact to enable Congress to intelligently legislate upon the subject. The commis- 

 sion is given authority to employ experts and such clerical assistants as may be 

 needed, and is required to report to the President not later than January 1, 1909. 



Believing that this bill, by opening the way for the States to cooperate with one 

 another, puts it within their power to contribute much to the solution of this impor- 

 tant problem; that the provision it makes for cooperation between the United States, 

 the States, and private owners of forest lands must contribute greatly to the rapid 

 extension of scientific forestry; and that by means of the commission for which it 

 provides the most careful study of the whole problem with a view to future legisla- 

 tion is made possible, and that for these reasons the proposed legislation will be of 

 great public advantage, your committee respectfully reports the bill back to the House 

 with the recommendation that it do pass. 



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