ADMINISTRATION 63 



States, or equally radical disposition made of them. 

 Such Congressmen usually are working for some 

 predatory private interests who want to secure the 

 great wealth in the National Forests that is being 

 wisely conserved for the people. 



The Consolidation of National Forest Lands. 

 There has also been a great need for consolidating 

 the National Forest lands where these were inter- 

 spersed with private or state lands. Congress has 

 recognized this need and from time to time has 

 granted authority to exchange lands with private 

 owners or States where such an exchange would be 

 advantageous to the Government through the re- 

 sulting consolidation of holdings. Thus by getting 

 the government lands into a more compact body 

 their administration and protection are materially 

 facilitated in many ways. 



Before any exchange is made it must be ascer- 

 tained that the land which the Government is to 

 receive has equal value with that relinquished, also 

 that the land is chiefly valuable for the production 

 of timber and the protection of stream flow. Re- 

 cent additions to the ^Vhitman National Forest in 

 Oregon consisted of privately owned cut-over tim- 

 berland rapidly reproducing to valuable timber 



