RECLAMATION OF THE LANDSCAPE 347 



conditions. Think of the little spruce tree that is put on one of 

 these hot spoil banks. In ten years, it may be 18 inches high. And 

 most of this planting by the way of evergreens is done in a deciduous 

 forest climate where the large-tooth aspen and the black locust may 

 grow 10 feet from seed in two years. 



I would like to suggest that the people who are doing research on 

 revegetation take a lead from the highway engineers and blow mix- 

 tures of fertilizer, of seed, particularly of deciduous trees, straw and 

 hay on the spoil banks. If a lady gets her shoulders sun burned, 

 she doesn't put a few beauty patches on them. She covers up the 

 hot hide. The important thing is to get a fast cover on the hot spoil 

 banks and then the trees will grow beautifully thereafter. Think of 

 a spoil surface as a desert environment. 



Mrs. CONNIE QUINN. We have a strip mining law which I under- 

 stand is the most strict or the second most strict in the United States. 

 And I believe it is being effectively carried out. We also have what 

 is considered one of the world's largest shovels in our western Ken- 

 tucky coalfield, and I would like to suggest that the panel make some 

 type of recommendation to control the type of equipment that is be- 

 ing made to use in these strip mining areas. I understand that the 

 firm that has the shovel is now planning one larger than the one it 

 has now, where it can go in and disturb more acres of coal in one day 

 than hundreds of men can do in a month. 



I would like to ask Mr. Stocker the question about his planting 

 program on highway screening. Were the trees planted and given 

 by the State? Did they grow their own trees in their own nursery 

 or were they bought from private individuals? 



Mr. STOCKER. These were bought by our company. 



Mrs. QUINN. I would like to find such an angel in Kentucky. 



MARTIN HANSON. I would like to put a question to Mr. Caudill. 

 My city, Mellen, Wis., lies in a valley between two ancient moun- 

 tain ranges. To the south is the Goegebic iron range, which is con- 

 trolled by one of our largest steel corporations. The hill and moun- 

 tains directly south of Mellen have been described as one of the out- 

 standing ski hill and recreational opportunities in all of the Midwest. 



Next week a vice president of this company is coming to our 

 town and our valley. The same thing will happen that has hap- 

 pened to your valley. What should we do about it? 



779-59565 23 



