A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 631 



and conservative is generally recognized. These policies which 

 have been modified and improved by subsequent regulations, should 

 be extended and intensively carried out. To this end larger appro- 

 priations are needed for additional improvements and equipment and 

 an increased personnel, the details of which would require a larger 

 amount of investigation and analysis than has been possible in 

 preparing this report. 



The efficient functioning of the forpstry branch will be materially 

 aided when funds and personnel are available for the collection and 

 compilation of reliable and complete statistical data on all forest 

 resources and all details of costs and administration. In fact, 

 administrative officers cannot exercise proper control without such 

 data. The lack of sufficient funds and personnel for this purpose 

 has constantly handicapped the forestry branch of the Indian Service 

 and this situation should be immediately remedied. 



The public has, through the Congress, given its approval to the 

 acquisition of large areas of mismanaged private forest production 

 and protection lands by the Government; for the incorporation of 

 these lands into new national forests; and for the extension of existing 

 national forests. The public good clearly justifies this program of 

 enlargement of the national forests. The general public is clearly 

 interested in and must be responsible for the maintenance of an 

 adequate supply of timber in the United States; for the protection 

 of watersheds (the source of its water for domestic use and the 

 protection of millions of dollars of invested capital in irrigation and 

 power projects) and for the regulation of streamflow; for the preven- 

 tion of destructive erosion of range and agricultural land; and for 

 the maintenance of forested areas of inestimable recreational and 

 inspirational value to the entire body politic. 



Into this national picture the 71 million acres of Indian land fit 

 with such perfect clearness that the public responsibility is inescap- 

 able. Many Indian tribes are possessed of great natural resources 

 which are not susceptible of individual allotment and which from 

 the standpoint of sound national economy should be preserved in 

 large working units so that they may be conserved and used effec- 

 tively (9). 



It is self-evident that the National Government should properly 

 conserve and use those areas of forest and range land now under its 

 jurisdiction. The welfare of the Indians and the public good demand 

 the prompt correction of easily discernible errors of legislation and 

 administration of Indian lands which have resulted in the breaking 

 up of the unified ownership of large areas of forest and range lands; 

 which have made impossible the proper protection and economic use 

 of these lands; and which have forced or will force many thousands 

 of acres of forest and range land through the gamut of Indian owner- 

 ship to private ownership and finally to swell the total of non- 

 productive, unprotected, tax delinquent, and tax foreclosed land. 

 Unless remedial action is promptly taken, these conditions, which are 

 deplorable from the national standpoint of conservation and wise use, 

 will constantly become aggravated and more extensive. Not only 

 will damage measured in dollars by millions have been done, but the 

 proper management of these lands will be postponed for several 

 decades at least, if it is ever possible. 



168342 33 vol. 1 41 



