supply of water in navigable streams. They hold that the matter is one over which the States have exclusive jurisdiction, and that if the right exists it is the duty of the State to assume the responsibility of meeting it. Second. Another view is that while it is neither the right nor the duty of the Federal Government to purchase the forests it may properly cooperate with the States or with private owners in their preservation by furnishing expert advice and assistance in their proper utilization and administration. Third. Still another view is that when it is shown that the forests of a given watershed have a direct and substantial connection with the navigability of the navigable rivers flowing from that watershed the Federal Government has the right to exercise jurisdiction over the forests therein, although they remain in private ownership, and prescribe the method which shall be followed in utilizing the forests within such watershed. Fourth. The last, and doubtless the most generally advocated plan, proposes that the Federal Government shall buy all the land that may be necessary to protect the watersheds of navigable rivers and exercise over the forests growing upon them all the rights and privileges of absolute ownership. The bill now before the House was drawn with a view to meeting, in a measure at least, each of these four proposed plans. The first section proposes to give the consent of Congress to each of the several States of the Union which may wish to do so to enter into such agreement or compact, not in conflict with any law of the United States, as it may deem desirable or necessary, with any other State or States for the purpose of conserving the forests and the water supply of the States entering into such agreement or compact. It has been often urged, by those who insist that the Federal Government should purchase the forests under consideration, that the problem is interstate, and in view of the constitutional inhibition against a State entering into any agreement or compact with another the proper treatment of the problem is made impossible to the States alone. If section 1 of this bill becomes a law this obstacle to cooperation between and among the States will be removed. Section 2 of the bill appropriates the sum of $100,000 to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to cooperate with any State or group of States, when requested to do so, by supplying expert advice on forest preservation, utilization, and administration, and upon reforestation of denuded areas. It also anthorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into agreement with the owners of any private forest lands situated upon the watershed of a navigable river, to administer and protect such forest land upon such terms as the Secretary of Agriculture may prescribe. It is believed that under the authority given in this section many thousands of acres of forest lands will be brought as effectually within the jurisdiction of the United States for all the purposes of scientific forestry as if these lands were actually owned by the Government. Section 3 of the bill provides for the appointment of a commission to be composed of five Members of the Senate, to be appointed by the presiding officer thereof, and five Members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker. Section 4 makes it the duty of this commission to investigate all questions tending to show the direct and substantial connection, if any, between the preservation of the forests within the watersheds of the navigable rivers having their sources in the White Mountains and Southern Appalachian Mountains, and the navigability of said rivers. And in case the commission shall determine that such direct and substantial connection exists, it shall then be its duty to ascertain to what extent, if at all, it may be necessary for the Government of the United States to acquire land within the watersheds referred to, the number of acres of such land, and the probable cost, or whether it may be desirable, if within the power of the United States to exercise, without purchase, such supervision over such watersheds as may be necessary to conserve the navigability of the rivers proceeding therefrom. Under the provisions of this section all the questions arising out of the proposal that the Federal Government purchase the forests or that it exercise jurisdiction over them without purchase, may be carefully studied and fully considered. It is true that by an act of the last Congress the Secretary of Agriculture was authorized to report and did report upon the watersheds of the Southern Appalachian and White mountains, the purpose of the report being to present to Congress "the area and natural conditions of said watersheds, the price at which the same can be purchased by the Federal Government, and the advisability of the Government purchasing and setting aside the same as national forest reserves for the purpose of conserving and regulating the water supply and the flow of said streams in the interest of agriculture, water power, and navigation.' Without intending any reflection upon those who prepared this report, it may be fairly said that it does not present such detailed and accurate information as any careful business man would insist upon having before entering upon a policy which was to involve the expenditure of many millions of dollars. It does not indicate the extent of the navigable portions of the rivers whose navigability it is desired to protect nor the value of the forests upon them. It presents no data showing to what extent, if at all, the volume or the steadiness of stream flow has been influenced by the destruction of the forests. It shows in only the most general way the location, area, and probable cost of the lands it is proposed to purchase. While it recommends (p. 37) that the Government acquire an area of 600,000 acres in the White Mountains and 5,000,000 acres in the southern Appalachian Mountains, it states also (p. 32) that an area of 75,000,000 acres will have to be given protection "before the watersheds and important streams are adequately safeguarded," suggesting the thought that while less than 7,000,000 acres are to be purchased at once, 75,000,000 acres must ultimately be acquired if the watersheds of the important streams are to be "adequately safeguarded." Your committee is of the opinion that if a commission of ten members of the legislative body, responsible to their constit uents and to the country for whatever report they may make, is directed to investigate the subject, the information presented in its report will be sufficiently comprehensive and exact to enable Congress to intelligently legislate upon the subject. The commission is given authority to employ experts and such clerical assistants as may be needed, and is required to report to the President not later than January 1, 1909. Believing that this bill, by opening the way for the States to cooperate with one another, puts it within their power to contribute much to the solution of this important problem; that the provision it makes for cooperation between the United States, the States, and private owners of forest lands must contribute greatly to the rapid extension of scientific forestry; and that by means of the commission for which it provides the most careful study of the whole problem with a view to future legisla tion is made possible, and that for these reasons the proposed legislation will be of great public advantage, your committee respectfully reports the bill back to the House with the recommendation that it do pass. INDEX. Page. Ayers, Philip W., esq., state forester of New Hampshire.. 31 57 15 Chittenden, H. M., Lieut. Col. of the Corps of Engineers U. S. Army 63, 112 Currier, Hon. Frank D., a Representative from New Hampshire 36 Gay, Dr. George L., president of the American Medical Association 58 Goodrich, C. C., esq., general manager of the N. Y., N. H. & Hartford Gen- eral Transportation Company 53 Guild, Hon. Curtis, jr., governor of Massachusetts.. 4, 22 Hale, Rev. Edward Everett, Chaplain of U. S. Senate... 11 Harvey, W. S., esq., representing the National Board of Trade. 43 House Report on S. 4825.. 119 Lee, W. S., esq., of Charlotte, N. C., hydraulic engineer 50 McFarland, J. Horace, esq., president of American Civic Association.. Ruge, John G., esq., vice-president of Southern Commercial Congress. Swain, Prof. G. F., of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Tompkins, D. A., esq., president of the Southern Appalachian Association 45, 103 15, 24 |