2 Department Circular 313, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



their value upon the evenness of stream flew; (3) preservation of the 

 purity and regularity of flow of the mountain streams, with a view 

 to their use for the water supply of towns and cities; (4) continuance 

 of a timber supply to meet the needs of the industries of the country ; 

 (5) preservation cf the beauty and attractiveness of the lands for 

 the recreation and pleasure of the people. 



The United States Geological Survey is charged with the re- 

 sponsibility of determining whether the control of lands in a given 

 watershed will have a beneficial effect on the flow of streams. 



USE OF THE LANDS BY THE PUBLIC. 



The lands acquired by the Government under this law have been 

 proclaimed as national forests by the President. The forests are 

 opened for the legitimate use of the public. 



Timber is sold, if it can be spared, under contracts designed to per- 

 mit the ha vesting of the mature timber and to provide for succeed- 

 ing timber crops. Protection against fire and trespass is intensively 

 organized. Permits are issued for the grazing of livestock and for 

 legitimate business enterprise. The public is invited to enjoy the 

 recreational advantages otf'ered on acquired lands. The forest super- 

 visors will furnish necessary information as to the manner in which 

 the resources may be utilized. 



The police powers of the State remain intact. Hunting and fish- 

 ing under authority of State laws may be enjoyed except where game 

 refuges have been created by the Federal Government with a delega- 

 tion of authority by the States in which they are situated. General 

 Federal game laws and treaties, laws, and regulations relating to 

 migratory birds of course apply on the national forests. 



RESTRICTIONS. 



Aside from its application to the watersheds of navigable streams, 

 the law is not restricted to particular regions, except that lands may 

 be purchased only in the States whose legislatures have consented to 

 the acquisition of such lands by the United States for the purpose of 

 j^reserving the navigability of streams. The States which have 

 passed such legislation and in which purchases are now contemplated • 

 are: Maine, Xew Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, 

 Kentucky, Xorth Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, 

 Alabama, and Arkansas. 



The sources of the navigable streams which have their origin 

 in the Rocky Mountains or the mountains nearer the Pacific coast 

 are already to a large extent protected by national forests. The 

 Adirondack and Catskill Mountains are protected by the State of 

 New York. The Appalachian Mountains, including the White Moun- 

 tains, are still to a considerable extent without such protection. Be- 

 cause of their altitude, steepness, and lack of protection, they are in 

 a class by themselves in their need for the action authorized under 

 this law. 



WHAT LANDS SHOULD BE ACQUIRED. 



The area needing protection in the Appalachians is very large, 

 larger than the area which need be acquired, because the region can 

 undoubtedly be fully protected and put on a substantial basis of tini- 



