THE McNARY-CLARKE FORESTRY BILL 91 



" An important part of the surface of 39 states is forest or forest- 

 growing land. From 40 to 60 per cent, of the area of many eastern 

 states with a dense population and highly-developed industries, like 

 Michigan, New York and Massachusetts, is land of this character. 

 Yet but very few of the eastern states contain merchantable timber in 

 quantities corresponding to their areas of forest land. Seventy-five 

 per cent, of our remaining virgin growth and 60 per cent, of all the 

 usable wood in the country are concentrated on one-fourth of the 

 acreage of timber-producing land, in the states comprising the Rocky 

 Mountain region and the Pacific Coast." 



The report lays particular stress upon the transportation costs 

 of the dependent eastern states, who import a large percentage of 

 their wood. The terrific drain of fires upon the forest resources is 

 emphasized, as well as the loss from insects and diesase. Considera- 

 tion is given to the necessity of tax revisions to encourage the farming 

 of timberlands to crops of wood instead of waste; emphasis is placed 

 upon the part of public ownership in preparing for the future and the 

 value of widespread and systematic planting is stressed. 



THE McNARY-CLARKE FORESTRY BILL 



Based upon its investigations and carrying out the recommenda- 

 tions contained in its report of its findings, the Select Committee on 

 Reforestation of the United States Senate presented to Congress a 

 definite bill, seeking to establish the forest policy envisaged by Con- 

 gress in creating the committee. The bill was presented in the Senate 

 by Senator Charles L. McNary of Oregon and in the House by 

 Congressman John D. Clarke of New York, carrying the general title 

 of the McNary-Clarke Bill, and the specific titles of S.n82 

 H.R. 4830, and was finally passed June 6, 1924. 



Under Section I of the bill the Secretary of Agriculture is author- 

 ized to cooperate with appropriate officials of the states and other 

 suitable individuals in recommending systems of fire protection 

 adapted to every forest region. Through this the creation of an 

 efficient forest protection plan is sought. 



Section II empowers the Secretary of Agriculture, through the 

 Forest Service, to follow up cooperation in such a plan, expending in 

 any one year not more than the state appropriates, by joining in fire 



