TABLE 6-Statement Showing Work Accomplished at Civilian Conservation Corps Camps Under the Jurisdiction of the National Park Service July 1, 1939, to June 30, 1940-Continued

OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF FORESTS

Lee Muck, Director

THE Department of the Interior, established in 1849, was the first Executive Department of the United States with administrative responsibilities in forestry. Long before the creation of the first National forest reserve in 1891 and the granting of authority to administer the National forest reserves in 1897, different bureaus and offices of the Department put forth special efforts to protect and promote the interests of the Federal Government in the forests of the public domain and on other Federal lands. Ever since 1850, when the first Federal timber agents were appointed, but especially following the reorganization and enlargement of the whole timber-agent system in 1877, forest administration has been one of the principal functions of the Department of the Interior.

The practice of forestry in the Department has progressed through the use of special programs designed for application to such diversified forest conditions as exist on the public domain, the National parks and on Indian lands. Because of the highly diversified conditions which characterize these lands the Department of the Interior carries on a wider range of forestry functions and activities than any other Federal Department; and highly significant also is the fact that under its jurisdiction at the present time is almost two-thirds of the area of all Federal lands in the United States proper, and if Alaska is included, then its jurisdiction extends over almost three-fourths of all Federal lands.

NATIONAL DEFENSE

The forest resources under the jurisdiction of the Department are so strategically situated and so well developed as to make substantial contributions to the National defense. These resources were under development during the World War and contributed in full measure to the prosecution thereof. They are in a position to furnish large volumes of essential forest products during the existing emergency and the administrative units in charge of development are being so organized as to meet any increase in demand which may develop.

CUSTODIAN OF VAST LAND AREAS AND DIVERSE FOREST

RESOURCES

The vast land areas under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior-approximately 268,000,000 acres in the United States proper-occur in all parts of the country but chiefly in the West. The condition of these lands is far more variable than that of any other Federal lands-ranging all the way from bare desert to primeval forests and from practically worthless waste areas to priceless masterpieces of Nature's best productions. This wide range of conditions has resulted in a correspondingly wide range of aims and purposes in the administration of these resources and requires the application of highly diversified policies and practices.

Most of the forest lands managed by the Department of the Interior were set aside for specific purposes by definite congressional enactments. The objectives set forth in the creating legislation vary from the preservation of the forests in their natural condition, as is the case in National parks, to the commercial handling of forests, including logging, as is the rule on Indian lands and the revested and reconveyed Federal forest lands in western Oregon. The Department thus finds itself the custodian of vast land areas which divide themselves quite naturally and readily into several categories of permitted land use, each category being administered by and under the jurisdiction of a separate office, bureau, service, or administration—all coordinated and directed by a Director of Forests in the Office of the Secretary of the Interior.

REPORT TO THE JOINT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON

FORESTRY

In a message to the Congress dated March 14, 1938, the President recommended the appointment of a committee to study the forest situation in the United States with a view to providing a basis for the enactment of essential legislation in the field of forest conservation. This message led to the approval by the Congress on June 14, 1938, of Joint Congressional Resolution No. 31 which established a Joint Committee on Forestry. The Committee held public hearings throughout the United States and has assembled an exhaustive record covering the forestry problems of the Nation.

Inasmuch as the Department of the Interior is charged with the care of the forests and forage on approximately 267,000,000 acres of public land in the continental United States, its activities in the field of conservation are of material importance as affecting a balanced timber budget and the concomitant influences of timber and forage growth. Accordingly, with a view to being helpful to the Joint Con

OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF FORESTS

Lee Muck, Director

THE Department of the Interior, established in 1849, was the first Executive Department of the United States with administrative responsibilities in forestry. Long before the creation of the first National forest reserve in 1891 and the granting of authority to administer the National forest reserves in 1897, different bureaus and offices of the Department put forth special efforts to protect and promote the interests of the Federal Government in the forests of the public domain and on other Federal lands. Ever since 1850, when the first Federal timber agents were appointed, but especially following the reorganization and enlargement of the whole timber-agent system in 1877, forest administration has been one of the principal functions of the Department of the Interior.

The practice of forestry in the Department has progressed through the use of special programs designed for application to such diversified forest conditions as exist on the public domain, the National parks and on Indian lands. Because of the highly diversified conditions which characterize these lands the Department of the Interior carries on a wider range of forestry functions and activities than any other Federal Department; and highly significant also is the fact that under its jurisdiction at the present time is almost two-thirds of the area of all Federal lands in the United States proper, and if Alaska is included, then its jurisdiction extends over almost three-fourths of all Federal lands.

NATIONAL DEFENSE

The forest resources under the jurisdiction of the Department are so strategically situated and so well developed as to make substantial contributions to the National defense. These resources were under development during the World War and contributed in full measure to the prosecution thereof. They are in a position to furnish large volumes of essential forest products during the existing emergency and the administrative units in charge of development are being so organized as to meet any increase in demand which may develop.

CUSTODIAN OF VAST LAND AREAS AND DIVERSE FOREST
RESOURCES

The vast land areas under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior-approximately 268,000,000 acres in the United States proper occur in all parts of the country but chiefly in the West. The condition of these lands is far more variable than that of any other Federal lands-ranging all the way from bare desert to primeval forests and from practically worthless waste areas to priceless masterpieces of Nature's best productions. This wide range of conditions has resulted in a correspondingly wide range of aims and purposes in the administration of these resources and requires the application of highly diversified policies and practices.

Most of the forest lands managed by the Department of the Interior were set aside for specific purposes by definite congressional enactments. The objectives set forth in the creating legislation vary from the preservation of the forests in their natural condition, as is the case in National parks, to the commercial handling of forests, including logging, as is the rule on Indian lands and the revested and reconveyed Federal forest lands in western Oregon. The Department thus finds itself the custodian of vast land areas which divide themselves quite naturally and readily into several categories of permitted land use, each category being administered by and under the jurisdiction of a separate office, bureau, service, or administration-all coordinated and directed by a Director of Forests in the Office of the Secretary of the Interior.

REPORT TO THE JOINT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON

FORESTRY

In a message to the Congress dated March 14, 1938, the President recommended the appointment of a committee to study the forest situation in the United States with a view to providing a basis for the enactment of essential legislation in the field of forest conservation. This message led to the approval by the Congress on June 14, 1938, of Joint Congressional Resolution No. 31 which established a Joint Committee on Forestry. The Committee held public hearings throughout the United States and has assembled an exhaustive record covering the forestry problems of the Nation.

Inasmuch as the Department of the Interior is charged with the care of the forests and forage on approximately 267,000,000 acres of public land in the continental United States, its activities in the field of conservation are of material importance as affecting a balanced. timber budget and the concomitant influences of timber and forage growth. Accordingly, with a view to being helpful to the Joint Con