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the Taylor Grazing Act. At the close of the year, grazing leases were outstanding on 7,411,986.77 acres, as against 5,830,743 acres outstanding at the close of the preceding year. Revenues from grazing leases during the fiscal year aggregated $152,378.34, compared with $137,365.13 during the preceding year.

The change from the system of issuing permits to prospect for oil and gas on the public domain, as authorized under the act of February 25, 1920 (41 Stat. 437), to the system of issuing leases under the amendatory act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 674), has been practically completed. The change was designed to aid in the conservation of the oil and gas resources, prevent speculation, and secure more adequate returns to the United States from such resources. All outstanding oil and gas prospecting permits (except 126 in Alaska) terminated on December 31, 1939. With the exception of the Alaska permits, the right to prospect for oil and gas will be governed exclusively by the provisions of the amendatory act of August 21, 1935. This act granted to the holders of permits the right to exchange the permits for leases. Approximately 70 percent of these permits have been exchanged or are in process of being exchanged for leases.

Five oil and gas leases, embracing 1,370 acres in producing structures, were sold at public auction, in accordance with the policy of the Department to lease Government oil and gas lands which are subject to drainage as a result of drilling operations on nearby privately owned lands.

Management of the timber resources on the approximately 2,500,000 acres of revested Oregon and California railroad and reconveyed Coos Bay Wagon Road grant lands, in Oregon, was furthered through additional research, inventory, and classification and establishment of improved procedures for maintaining sustained yield cutting. Classification of the timberlands has progressed satisfactorily and preliminary estimates of present timber volume have been prepared for the entire forested area. The timber-producing capacity of the lands is being determined and intensive studies are under way in preparation for definite subdivision of the revested lands into master sustainedyield units.

The Branch of Planning, Use, and Protection made substantial progress on an inventory of the resources of the public domain, the mapping of the public domain lands, the classification of lands for which application for entry, selection, or location had been made, and the assembly and analysis of information concerning the economic resources of Alaska.

By direction of Congress the General Land Office compiled and prepared a new edition of the official wall map of the United States.

the Taylor Grazing Act. At the close of the year, grazing leases were outstanding on 7,411,986.77 acres, as against 5,830,743 acres outstanding at the close of the preceding year. Revenues from grazing leases during the fiscal year aggregated $152,378.34, compared with $137,365.13 during the preceding year.

The change from the system of issuing permits to prospect for oil and gas on the public domain, as authorized under the act of February 25, 1920 (41 Stat. 437), to the system of issuing leases under the amendatory act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 674), has been practically completed. The change was designed to aid in the conservation of the oil and gas resources, prevent speculation, and secure more adequate returns to the United States from such resources. All outstanding oil and gas prospecting permits (except 126 in Alaska) terminated on December 31, 1939. With the exception of the Alaska permits, the right to prospect for oil and gas will be governed exclusively by the provisions of the amendatory act of August 21, 1935. This act granted to the holders of permits the right to exchange the permits for leases. Approximately 70 percent of these permits have been exchanged or are in process of being exchanged for leases.

Five oil and gas leases, embracing 1,370 acres in producing structures, were sold at public auction, in accordance with the policy of the Department to lease Government oil and gas lands which are subject to drainage as a result of drilling operations on nearby privately owned lands.

Management of the timber resources on the approximately 2,500,000 acres of revested Oregon and California railroad and reconveyed Coos Bay Wagon Road grant lands, in Oregon, was furthered through additional research, inventory, and classification and establishment of improved procedures for maintaining sustained yield cutting. Classification of the timberlands has progressed satisfactorily and preliminary estimates of present timber volume have been prepared for the entire forested area. The timber-producing capacity of the lands is being determined and intensive studies are under way in preparation. for definite subdivision of the revested lands into master sustainedyield units.

The Branch of Planning, Use, and Protection made substantial progress on an inventory of the resources of the public domain, the mapping of the public domain lands, the classification of lands for which application for entry, selection, or location had been made, and the assembly and analysis of information concerning the economic resources of Alaska.

By direction of Congress the General Land Office compiled and prepared a new edition of the official wall map of the United States.

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