factors of definite advantage to the public. The mistaken idea is prevalent that the drainage of practically all water or marsh areas is a public benefit. Experience has shown in numerous instances that drainage has resulted in destroying a water area, with its varied uses, and left in its place land of little or no value. A careful survey by qualified experts should be made in which the community values of the water areas should be considered before individual drainage projects are undertaken. Under proper conditions many lakes, ponds, swamps, and marsh areas will yield a distinctly larger return than would the same area drained for agricultural purposes. The development and utilization of all available products of such areas might be termed "water farming." In addition to the returns from water areas in wild fowl, they may also yield the following products: 1. A valuable supply of food and game fishes. 2. An annual return of furs from such fur bearers as the muskrats, skunks, and raccoons frequenting them. 3. The production in certain areas of grasses valuable for forage and for the manufacture of grass rugs, which has become a profitable industry; also, in suitable areas, the production of willow suitable for basketry and other purposes. 4. A natural ice supply. 5. A definite help in maintaining the underground water level which is frequently essential for the production of forest growth and other vegetation. 6. An invaluable help in holding back the run-off of flood waters, assisting in preventing excessive erosion and other flood damage. There is little doubt that if shallow lakes and swamp areas along drainage ways are systematically drained the danger of terrific floods and the enormous destruction of lives and property will be seriously increased. This effect of extensive drainage work deserves careful attention in view of its definite relation to the public welfare. 7. Many of the more attractive of such water areas lend themselves admirably for educational uses and to assist in interesting the people of the State in out-of-door recreation and in the natural resources of plant and animal life which are so important in supplying useful commodities. There is, however, little question that the greatest benefit of all from the establishment of public hunting grounds through the enactment of the present law would be its contribution to the public welfare. At the present time it is estimated that more than 6,000,000 people in the United States engage in hunting of one kind or another each year. The rapidly increasing drainage of marsh areas threatens the continuance of one of the most popular kinds of hunting, which will be perpetuated under the terms of the present bill. With the growing congestion of population and the unrest which such massing produces, the maintenance and development of opportunities for outof-door recreation, such as is here contemplated, places this bill in the front rank among legislative measures bearing on the public welfare. Throughout the United States a very large proportion of the men who spend a certain period each year in hunting are undoubtedly among our most desirable citizens. Through their out-ofdoor recreations they develop their resourcefulness and maintain a physical and mental health which is of the utmost value in relation to their civic usefulness. Under present conditions many of the most favorable marsh areas for wild-fowl shooting have been purchased and are being held by wealthy sportsmen as hunting clubs, thus curtailing opportunities for wild-fowl hunting by the general public. The growing absorption of such areas by hunting clubs has created much bitter criticism on the part of those who, through lack of means, are unable to enjoy such privileges. The enactment of the present bill, the establishment of public shooting grounds under its provisions, would give the general public equally good shooting privileges with those had by the clubs but without individual additional cost, and should completely obviate any cause for the antagonistic feeling on the part of the public now existing. The purchase, or rental, and maintenance of public shooting grounds, as provided for in the present bill, would maintain for the benefit of residents in both country and town large opportunities for continued wild-fowl shooting that will be impossible in any other way. It might, in fact, be stated that it would provide Federal shooting clubs for the benefit of the general public at the nominal cost of a Federal hunting license of $1 a year. The bill is well drawn and offers a solution of the problem of raising adequate funds for migratory bird protection and for the acquisition of public shooting grounds without the necessity of regular annual appropriations. Incidentally, if enacted it will accomplish many other desirable objects, and, as a simple, practical conservation measure of great value, it has the approval of this department. Very truly, yours, о HENRY C. WALLACE, Secretary. Mr. POINDEXTER, from the Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 6864.] The Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 6864) authorizing exchanges of lands within the Rainier National Forest, in the State of Washington, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that the bill do pass without amendment The necessity of this legislation is fully set forth in House Report No. 231, this Congress, as follows: The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6864) authorizing exchanges of lands within the Rainier National Forest, in the State of Washington, begs leave to report the same with amendments, and recommends that as amended the bill do pass. Amendments suggested are as follows: (1) Page 1, line 4, after the word "authorized" insert the words "in his discretion." (2) Page 1, line 9, after the word "land" insert the words "within any national forest within the State of Washington." (3) Page 2, lines 1, 2, and 3, strike out the words "considering any reservations of timber, minerals, or easements which may be made by either party to the exchanges." So that the bill, as amended, would read: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized in his discretion to accept on behalf of the United States title to any lands not in Government ownership within the Rainier National Forest if, in the opinion of the Secretary of Agriculture, such lands are chiefly valuable for national forest purposes, and in exchange therefor may issue patent for not to exceed an equal value of Government land within any national forest within the State of Washington, or the Secretary of Agriculture may permit the grantor to cut and remove an equal value of national forest timber in any national forest in the State of Washington, the values in each instance to be determined by the Secretary of Agriculture and to be acceptable to the owner as fair compensation. Timber given in such exchanges shall be cut and removed under the direction and supervision and in accordance with the requirements of the Secretary of Agriculture. Lands conveyed to the United States under this act shall, upon acceptance of title, become part of the Rainier National Forest." Within the Rainier National Forest there are many tracts of privately owned land intermingled with the Government's holdings. In many instances these disconnected tracts are owned by the same person. Rights to such lands were initiated prior to the establishment of the national forest. Much of the land was patented under the timber and stone act. Most of these areas are of such general character and support such forest cover that they are essentially forest lands and would serve their highest usefulness under Government administration as parts of the national forest in which they are situated. In their present unprotected or isolated state, the privately owned lands present a fire menace to the adjacent Government lands. Consolidation of the Government holdings by acquisition of these intermingled tracts would materially reduce the danger from fire and would simplify many problems of Government administration. Often such lands are so situated as to embarrass the Government in the ordinary process of administering its own lands and are a hindrance to those who desire the use, under permit, of the national forest lands for grazing or other purposes. Sometimes such lands are so situated that they present possibilities of endless complications, which could be avoided if the Government were authorized to consolidate its lands through such exchanges as the pending bill contemplates. Timber-cutting operations on these privately owned lands are frequently conducted without regard to consequent destruction of scenic beauty along important highways. The operators want to remove the timber they own. Often, however, where a logging operation would leave an unsightly area of forest devastation along an otherwise beautiful mountain road, as for instance on the route to Mount Rainier National Park, timber operators are willing to exchange their holdings for Government timber which may be cut without marring the beauty of the landscape. If the pending bill should be enacted, the Secretary of Agriculture would have authority to negotiate exchanges which would in some instances operate to reduce the hazard of fire; in some instances eliminate embarrassments of administration in connection with grazing and other permits; in some instances protect from devastation landscapes of great scenic beauty along important highways; and in some instances effect all of these three desirable objects. The pending bill by its terms is confined to exchanges within Rainier National Forest for the reason that parts of that particular forest are even now within the area of logging operations soon to be commenced. If such operations proceed, without authority to effect exchanges being conferred on the Secretary of Agriculture as is herein proposed, devastation of a considerable area of virgin timber, situated along the route of the Carbon River highway leading into Mount Rainier National Park, will follow within a brief time. If the pending bill is enacted, the Secretary of Agriculture will have authority to obtain title to this area, exchanging therefor an equal value of land or timber within any national forest in the State of Washington, and will thus preserve the scenic beauty of the Carbon River highway locality. Other exchanges within Rainier National Forest may be made from time to time as the exigencies of forest administration may require, if the pending bill be enacted. Recommendations of the Acting Secretary of Agriculture and the Acting Secretary of the Interior with reference to H. R. 6864 are appended. Hon. N. J. SINNOTT, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTure, Chairman Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. SINNOTT: Receipt is acknowledged of your request of June 7 for a report upon the bill (H. R. 6864) authorizing exchanges of lands within the Rainier National Forest, in the State of Washington." This bill proposes in substance that the Secretary of the Interior be authorized to accept title to privately owned lands within the Rainier National Forest, if the Secretary of Agriculture finds them to be chiefly valuable for national forest purposes. In exchange therefor the Secretary of the Interior may issue patent for not to exceed an equal value of Government land or the grantor may be permitted to cut an equal value of national forest timber within the State of Washington. The values in each instance will be determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. Provision is made that either party to the exchange may make reservations of timber, minerals, or easements. Upon acceptance of title, the privately owned lands will become parts of the Rainier National Forest. The department has uniformly approved the enactment of legislation which would permit the Government to acquire for national forest purposes the intermingled privately owned lands within the forest boundaries which are chiefly valuable for watershed protection or for timber production. In exchange for such lands the department has favored the patenting of other lands of equal value or giving the grantor permission to cut equivalent values of national forest timber. The bill S. 490 embodies these principles, and the department therefore recommends that the bill be enacted. Very truly, yours, E. D. BALL, Acting Secretary. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Hon. N. J. SINNOTT, Chairman Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. SINNOTT: This department is in receipt by reference from the Committee on the Public Lands, for report and recommendation, of House bill 6864 (67th Cong., 1st sess.) entitled "A bill authorizing exchanges of lands within the Rainier National Forest, in the State of Washington." The bill provides that the Secretary of the Interior be authorized, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture, to accept title of privately owned lands within the Rainier National Forest and patent an equal value of lands. or the Secretary of Agriculture may issue permits to cut an equal value of timber in any national forest in the State of Washington. There exchanges should be purely optional with the Government, and in order there may be no mistake it is respectfully suggested that there be inserted after the word "authorized" (line 4, p. 1) the words "in his discretion." In exchange for the land conveyed to the United States the Secretary of the Interior "may issue patent for not to exceed an equal value of Government land, or the Secretary of Agriculture may permit the grantor to cut and remove an equal value of national-forest timber in any national forest in the State of Washington * (Lines 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, p. 1.) * It is believed that it is the intent of the bill to restrict the land to be patented as well as the timber to be cut to that situated within any national forest in the State of Washington, and in order that there may be no doubt as to such intent it is recommended that the words "within any national forest within the State of Washington" be inserted after the word "land" (line 9, p. 1). It is noticed that in making such exchanges a fair compensation shall be given "considering any reservations of timber, minerals, or easements which may be made by either party to the exchange." This department has always objected to the acceptance of title that has been burdened with easements and reservations. One reason for this objection is that should, as often happens, the land be restored to the public domain it would be of little value to the settler if he has to take it subject to all kinds of restrictions and limitations. It is therefore recommended that the words "considering any reservations of timber, minerals, or easements which may be made by either party to the exchange" (lines 1, 2, 3, p. 2) be eliminated. Other than the above there is no objection to the bill, which as amended would read as follows: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized in his discretion to accept on behalf of the United States title to any lands not in Government ownership within the Rainier National Forest if, in the opinion of the Secretary of Agriculture, such lands are chiefly valuable for national forest purposes, and in exchange thereof may issue patent for not to exceed an equal value of Government land within any national forest within the State of Washington or the Secretary of Agriculture may permit the grantor to cut and remove an equal value of national forest timber in any national forest in the State of Washington, the values in each instance to be determined by the Secretary of Agriculture and to be acceptable to the owner as fair compensation. Timber given in such exchanges shall be cut and removed under the direction and supervision and in accordance with the requirements of the Secretary of Agriculture. Lands conveyed to the United States under this act shall, upon acceptance of title, become parts of the Rainier National Forest." Respectfully, E. C. FINNEY, Acting Secretary. о |