236 AGRICULTURAL, APPROPRL\TION BILL, 1924. 



lands and induc-o them to protect tlioir own lands. It is good busi- 

 ness for us to do so. because if their hinds are well urotected our lands 

 are safer. Adjoining owners ask to see our timner sale contracts; 

 they see how our cutting is done; and there have been manv cases 

 where land ownei*s have copied provisions from Forest Service sale 

 contracts in the sale of their own stumpage. All of our work has a 

 great educational value to the locality and the owners of adjoining 

 lands. 



Mr. BrniANAN. I understood you to say that 31 per cent had 

 been bought. 



Colonel Greeley. Thirty-one per cent of the area of these ap- 

 ])roved units. 



Mr. Brcii.WAX. Sup])ose the other 69 ])er cent is bought. Is the 

 work then over? 



Colonel Greeley. If the other percentage is bought, the units 

 would be c()m])lete and the buying in those areas would be finished: 

 yes, sir. The question then woukl be how far the Government 

 should extend this policy; but as to those specific units which the 

 commission has approved the thing will be done. 



Mr. IkciLVXAX. And on the 31 per cent how much did you say 

 was .s])ent '. 



Colonel (iREELEV. On the 31 per cent we have spent a little over 

 $12,000,000. Multi])ly that by three and you get approximately 

 the co.'^t of finishing these purchase areas. 



Mr. BrcHANAN. About .?4(), 000, 000 more ? 



Colonel Greeley. We will not recommend 100 per cent purchases 

 in all of those units, probably not in any of them. There are certain 

 lands which may be held at such high prices that we could not recom- 

 mend their purcliase as a business proposition. There are certain 

 other lands whose owners have put into effect a good system of pro- 

 tection and management. We do not recommend that the Feneral 

 Government buy such holdings. You might say that on the average 

 HO per cent would represent the completion of these units. 



Mr. Buchanan. After you finisli tliat area then would it be the 

 policv (»f the department to go on to other areas? 



Colonel Gheelev. 1 think it should be done within reasonable 

 limits. Right in line with that ([uestion I would like to advance an 

 additional idea or two. This work has been continued without a 

 break since 1011 and the initial program has hoon accomplislied to the 

 extent of 31 per cent. The showing to date makes it very clear that 

 the outlays for this |)urpose are really investments rather than 

 e.xpenditures. because the Government is building up a valuable 

 property and that property is eidiancing in value. We c<ndd close out 

 this pr(»p<»si(i(>n in a .short time, if Congress ordered us to do so, and 

 roine out with a nrofit over and above the entire cost of the enterprise, 

 including what has been spent for the protection of the lands after 

 t'lev were purchased. 



TIh' present is a favoral>le time to make such purchases because the 

 liruincial depression has resulted in a lowscale of values for forest lands, 

 particularly cut-over lands. We liave b(M>n able to buy large tracts 

 in the Allegheny Mountains of l\>iiM.sylvajiia at .'?"J..')()"per acre anil 

 other large tracts in West Virginia for cttrrespondinn; prices. If the 

 iM'deral Governineiil intends to i)ursue this policy it probably will 

 never have a more fav(»rable tim«' to buy forest lands at low prices. 



