would preserve our democracy of ownership of private 

 property, then ownership must meet its responsibilities as 

 well as enjoy its privileges. Accompanying widely distrib- 

 uted ownership of private property there is individual 

 responsibility for adjusting the conditions and uses of prop- 

 erty to social requirements. Erosion and loss of waters is 

 not merely an individual problem ; it is a social problem created 

 by individual conduct. 



In the absence of a drainage-area plan and program the 

 individual or small community does not have to go ahead 

 completely without skilled technical assistance. There is 

 available the advice and assistance of agencies of the State 

 Government and of the Federal Government. Most States 

 have agricultural, engineering, conservation, planning, and 

 similar technical bureaus. Immediately at hand for consul- 

 tation is the county agent probably the first one whose 

 advice should be sought. The Federal Government has 

 many agencies established to render just such assistance. 

 Information and advice may be obtained from such agencies 

 as the Geological Survey, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the 

 National Park Service, of the Department of the Interior; the 

 Office of Experiment Stations (and the nearest experiment 

 station), the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, the Bureau 

 of Agricultural Engineering, the Bureau of Biological Sur- 

 vey, the Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, the Forest Service, 

 the Bureau of Plant Industry, the Bureau of Public Roads, 

 and the Soil Conservation Service, of the Department of 

 Agriculture; the Bureau of Fisheries of the Department of 

 Commerce; the Bureau of Public Health Service of the 

 Department of the Treasury; and the Federal Power Com- 

 mission. Although located in Washington, many of these 

 agencies have regional or State representatives and to all 

 of them inquiries may be addressed by mail. 



Of these, most important from the point of view of erosion 

 control is the Soil Conservation Service. Discipline of the 

 raindrops and the sheets of water running toward the creeks 

 and ponds is the critical step the point of departure. The 

 function of this agency is to study the erosion problem, whether 



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