194 



FORESTRY INVESTIGATIONS U. 8. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



of timber iu Florida, and to take such other measures as might be deemed advisable for the 

 preservation of timber there. (Florida had recently been ceded to the United States by Spain, 

 and was known to abound in live oak timber.) 



In 1831 an act was passed (Rev. Stat., sees. 2461, 2402, and 24G3) of wider scope than that of 

 1822. This made it a felony, with penalty of flue and imprisonment, to cut or remove timber 

 from any of the public lands, whether reserved or not, except for the use of the Navy, and 

 subjected any vessel transporting such timber without proper authority and for any other purpose 

 than for the use of the Navy, to confiscation, and the master of the vessel to a line. 



This act is the one under which, up to the present time, all the protection they have had has 

 been secured to the public forests, the Supreme Court having construed the act (9 How., 351) as 

 authorizing the protection of all timber on the public lands and punishment for trespass upon the 

 same. Under the act of 1831 the Treasury Department undertook a partial oversight and 

 protection of timber on the public lands through its ordinary agents. In 1855 this oversight was 

 transferred to agents of the Land Department, registers and receivers being instructed to act 

 also as timber agents, but without any additional compensation. Where trespass was willfully 

 committed, payment of stumpage was demanded or the timber was seized and sold and the 

 proceeds paid into the Treasury. Where the trespass was committed iguorantly, actual entry of 

 the land only was required, with payment of the usual entry charges. 



The first appropriation for the payment of agents specially employed for the protection of 

 timber on the public lands was made in 1872, when $5,000 were appropriated. A like sum was 

 appropriated annually thereafter for five years. In 1878, to meet expenses for suppressing depre- 

 dations upon timber on the public lands, $25,000 were appropriated, and subsequently these 

 appropriations were increased until iu 1893 they reached the limit of $120,000, then to be reduced 

 to $40,000, $60,000, and $90,000, for 1894, 1895, and 1896 respectively. 



Year. 



Congress. 



House in 

 which origi- 

 nated. 



Object of bill. 



Action taken. 



1871 

 1871 



1872 

 1872 



1873 



1874 



1874 

 1874 

 1875 



1875 

 187.0 



41st, 3d sess.. 

 ...do... 



H. K. 2930 . . 

 H. K. 3005 . . 



For the sale of timber lands in California and Oregon 



To authorize the sale of timber lauds in California, Oregon, 

 and Washington Territory, not exceeding 640 acres to 

 one person or association, without residence, at $2.50 per 

 acre. 



....do 



To encourage the planting of trees and the preservation 

 of woods on the public domain. (The first real and com- 

 prehensive forestry bill.) 



Resolution that the Committee on Agriculture inquire 

 whether a certain percentage of each quarter section of 

 public lands sold must be planted with trees or a certain 

 percentage of existing forests preserved for the purpose 

 of preventing or remedying drouth. 



Same as Gartield bill (274) above 



For the survey and disposal of the timber lands of the 

 United Status. Miners may buy stumpage, not more 

 than 160 acres, till that is cut, at $2.50 per acre. Home- 

 steaders may buy 40 acres of timber land near agricul- 

 tural land at same price. 



For the appointment of a commission for inquiry into the 

 destruction of forests and into the measures necessary 

 for the preservation of timber. 



For the appointment of a commission to inquire into the 

 destruction of forests and into the measures neces-sary 

 for the preservation of timber. 



To regulate the survey and sale oi the timber lands of the 

 United States. Commissioner of the Laud Office to sur- 

 vey and appraise lauds more valuable for their timber 

 than i'or agricultural use. Such lands not to be entered 

 under homestead or preemption laws, but appraised and 

 offered at public sale, and if not sold then to be open to 

 private entry at a price not less than the appraisal. 



To regulate the survey and sale of the timber lands of the 

 United States. Same bill as the preceding. 



To repeal section 'J303 of the Revised Statutes, thereby 

 opening timber lands in Southern States to private entry 

 in unlimited quantities and at the reduced price of $1.25 

 per acre. 



Referred to Committee on Public 



Lands. 

 Passed iu House. In Senate, referred 



to Committee on Public Lands. 



Referred to Committee on Public 



Lands. 



Referred to Committee on Agricult ure. 

 Reported favorably. Failed of pas- 

 sageSi yeas, 87 nays. 



No action. 



Referred to Committee on Public 

 Lands. June 3, reported back with 

 amendments and recommitted. De- 

 cember, 1874, II. R. bill 4194 reported 

 by committee as substitute. Passed 

 February 22, 1875. In Senate, Feb- 

 ruary 22*, referred to Committee on 

 Public Lauds. 



Referred to Committee on Public 

 Lands. Reported with amend- 

 ments. 



Referred to Committee on Public 



Lauds. Reported back with H. It. 



2540 as a substitute. 

 Reported by Committee on Public 



Lands as a substitute for preceding 



bill, H.R.2497. 

 Referred to Committee on Public 



Lauds. 



Do. 



Referred to Committee on Public 

 Lands. Reported back and passed. 

 In House referred to Committee on 

 Public Lands. Passed House and 

 became a law July 4, 1876, through 

 inaction of the President. 



