in the last 2 or 3 years at much less than the assessed value and at much less than the census valuation. The only thing that really determines the value of land is what it will bring under the hammer. Have you any statistics that will show the price at which land has been sold in those counties at sheriff's sale within the last 3 or 4 years? Have you statistics to show what it brought when it was sold by the sheriff? Mr. ROBERTS. No, sir; I have not. Mr. CANNON. That is the only way to determine the real value of land, or the price that it will bring. I think that any man who lives in an agricultural area will testify that land within the last 2 or 3 years has been sold under execution or for taxes, or under deeds of trust, for less than its assessed value. In many instances it has failed to bring anything like the assessed value. As a matter of fact, I have considerable land that I would be delighted to turn over to anybody at its assessed value. Mr. ROBERTS. Of course, this is a long-term enterprise. Mr. CANNON. Your leases are for 1 year. I live in a rich agricultural section, and I can buy land at the prices you are paying for 1 year's rental. Suppose you continue and give us similar figures on the value of land in the other five States. Mr. ROBERTS. In South Dakota, in Davidson County, the maximum assessed value was $47, and the minimum $27. Mr. CANNON. Of course, all of those are agricultural lands? Mr. CANNON. And not affected by proximity to towns or cities? Mr. ROBERTS. They are agricultural lands and farming communities. Mr. UMSTEAD. Is that the value of the land assessed for taxation in respect to cities and communities? Mr. ROBERTS. Yes, sir; according to my record. Mr. UMSTEAD. Was that assessment before the particular area we are discussing was devastated by storms, sand storms? Mr. ROBERTS. I think the assessed values were obtained in the fall of 1934 and the spring of 1935. Mr. UMSTEAD. May I ask you if you know for what purpose this land could be used on which you are planting these trees? Mr. ROBERTS. That land is good crop land, good wheat land, corn and sorghum land. Mr. UMSTEAD. $3.50 per acre per year would be 6-percent interest on about $58, would it not? Mr. ROBERTS. Yes; it would. Mr. UMSTEAD. It would be 10 percent of $35. Mr. ROBERTS, I think this was based on 7 to 9 percent, according to the State. Mr. GRANGER. This land, in the main, is not land that was blown away in any large quantities during those dust storms of which you speak. It is better land than that. Mr. CANNON. You may continue with the other three States. Mr. ROBERTS. The census value in Davidson County was $38. In Edmunds County the maximum assessed value was $22, and the minimum $10, and the census valuation figure $16. The land-bank appraisal in Davidson County fixed the maximum at $60 and the minimum at $30. In Edmunds County the land-bank appraisals were $40 maximum and $14 minimum. Mr. CANNON. Suppose you just extend your remarks in the record, including that data for the other States, and we will see what the trend of it is. (The statement referred to is as follows:) Mr. CANNON. Your statistics have been based wholly on the assessment for local taxation purposes and census reports. You have no records of actual sales of land? Mr. ROBERTS. Yes; we have some records of actual sales. (The statement requested follows:) Actual sales data from sample counties and States shelterbelt zone Mr. ZoN. Mr. Chairman, may I make a statement on that? LASTING BENEFITS OF TREE-PLANTING DEMONSTRATIONS Mr. ZoN. We talk about this project like a building project which has to be completed, as otherwise it is of no benefit. I personally feel that tree planting will go on in that region as long as people live there. Mr. CANNON. Their self-interest will prompt them to continue where you left off. Mr. ZoN. Yes, but planting trees in a semidry region is a very difficult task, and the Government and the States have to help the farmers, that is, advise the right selection of species, as otherwise they will meet with a great many failures. Mr. CANNON. That is what you have endeavored to give them in the areas which you have planted up to this time. Now, was the planting of these 6,000,000 trees distributed over six States, or was it all done in one State? Mr. ZoN. They are distributed in six States. Mr. CANNON. So that the educational value of these demonstrational areas will be as widely distributed as possible? Mr. ZoN. Yes, sir. Mr. GRANGER. Mr. Roberts calls my attention to the fact that in the entire project the acreage of the field planting, as distinguished from the farm-site plantings would be only a million acres, so that the larger part of the plantings would be on these farm-site operations, where the expense would be almost entirely borne by the owner. Mr. ROBERTS. It would be at least 50-50. Mr. GRANGER. In that connection I would like to say we believe fully in the occupants of the land cooperating and not having the Government bear all the expense. It would be our idea to work toward full cooperation that just as rapidly as would be consistent with the kind of a start we had to make with the projects. I would like to include for the record a statement in answer to the committee's request for the cost of all operations on 1,000 trees. (The statement referred to follows:) STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES UNDER THE INITIAL ALLOTMENT OF $1,000,000 FOR PRELIMINARY SHELTERBELT WORK, AND COST OF PLANTING 1,000 TREES Of the $1,000,000 allotted to the plains shelterbelt project from the appropriation for loans and relief in stricken agricultural areas, fiscal year 1935, $908,089 was expended. In initiating this project it was necessary that investigation be made of the soil, climatic, moisture, and economic factors to assure ourselves that the project could be successfully prosecuted. The cooperation of other bureaus of the Department of Agriculture was enlisted in this phase. It was also necessary that initial investments be made in supplies and equipment and in the production of necessary seedlings for the continuance of the program in 1936. The objective of the appropriation, loans and relief in stricken agricultural areas, made it obligatory that a maximum of relief be given to the farmer in the form of work. The extent of the planting program in 1935 was controlled by the availability of planting stock. It was necessary to depend entirely upon the available planting stock in going commercial nurseries and the collection of wildings that were suitable for planting. The costs of exploratory and investment items were as follows: Bureau of Biological Survey. 25, 500 Lake States Forest Experiment Station 62, 802 Plains States__ Experimental work in planting and nursery practices to adapt them to semiarid conditions in Plains States. Experiments in water conservation measures to avoid any form of artificial irrigation....... 15, 225 18, 112 Total, exploratory cost... 28, 750 183, 999 Investment items Investment in transportation facilities, tools and equipment for nursey Gross expenditure on project (1935). Cost of 1935 planting program...... The $430,575 was expended for the planting of 125.09 miles of shelterbelt strip (10 to 15 rows of trees and shrubs in strips 8 rods wide) or 2,001 acres and 5,014 acres of farmstead and farm wood-lot planting, a total of 7,015 acres. The average cost of planting per acre was $61.36. The total number of trees planted was 6,556,000. The average cost per thousand was $68.72. In expending the 1935 allotment all costs were met by the Government. In 1936 the farmer was requested to cooperate in preparing the land, in fencing, and in cultivation. The following table indicates the actual costs per thousand trees in 1935 and the estimated costs for the 1936 planting program. Nursery stock was purchased from commercial nurserymen in 1935 and produced on leased nursery sites by the Government in 1936. 1 Farmers contribute ground preparation, materials for fencing, and land. Includes cultivation of 1935 plantings and contributed cultivation of farmstead plantings by farmers. Contribution by farmers 1936 over 1935, 43 percent. On the basis of contributions by farmers to all activities except supervision, technical advice, seedling production and planting, the estimated costs would be. The landowner would then contribute 63 percent of the total cost. C. C. C. CAMPS STATEMENT OF MR. FRED MORRELL, ASSISTANT CHIEF IN CHARGE OF EMERGENCY CONSERVATION WORK, FOREST SERVICE Mr. CANNON. How many C. C. C. camps are there under your jurisdiction, Mr. Granger? Mr. GRANGER. I am going to ask Mr. Morrell to answer these questions, as he is in charge of this work for the Forest Service, Mr. Chairman. Mr. MORRELL. There are 1,054, Mr. Cannon. Mr. CANNON. In what States are they distributed? I will ask you to place a statement in the record. (The statement requested is as follows:) Statement showing number of Emergency Conservation Work camps in States of Georgia, Missouri, and North Carolina in January 1936 AVERAGE COST OF MAINTAINING C. C. C. CAMPS Mr. CANNON. What is the average cost of these camps, Mr. Mor rell? I do not suppose it varies materially in any State? Mr. MORRELL. To construct the camp? Mr. CANNON. Yes. Mr. MORRELL. About $22,000 a camp. |