ASSISTANCE TO STATES IN TREE PLANTING (See p. 410) Mr. SILCOX. I would like to go back to the item on forest influences, under which is included the shelterbelt. I would like to have the committee take into consideration the development of some method of helping the prairie States in tree planting. The foundation has already been laid in the Clarke-McNary Act of 1924, where this language is used in section 4: SEC. 4. That the Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized and directed to cooperate with the various States in the procurement, production. and distribution of forest-tree seeds and plants, for the purpose of establishing windbreaks, shelterbelts, and farm wood lots upon denuded or nonforested lands within such cooperating States, under such conditions and requirements as he may prescribe to the end that forest-tree seeds or plants so procured, produced, or distributed shall be used, effectively for planting denuded or nonforested lands in the cooperating States and growing timber thereon: Provided, That the amount expended by the Federal Government in cooperation with any State during any fiscal year for such purposes shall not exceed the amount expended by the State for the same purposes during the same fiscal year. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated annually, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, not more than $100,000, to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the provisions of this section. SHELTERBELT PROJECT I think you have put your finger on a vital point in connection with the extension of the shelterbelt. When we went into the project, suggestions were made to lease the land, but we hesitated to accept a liability for leasing lands to plant. We have endeavored to have the farmer give us the land for planting, and he has cooperated in that respect. As an emergency measure during the drought-relief period, the Government used these lands for planting the trees. If you are going to do this on a continuing basis by appropriations made by Congress, I do not think we ought to always pay for establishment of the trees; I think we only ought to raise suitable plants and give technical supervision and advice, but the farmer should assume the responsibilities of ground preparation, maintenance, and care of the trees. We have been very careful, when the allotments were made, to get in there in any way we could. As I said, I was like a Bedouin in there with my tent; I could fold it up and get right away without leaving the project tied up with obligations, and the losses would have been very small. If we had taken that on another basis, we could have gone ahead with the project. I think the shelterbelt project is sound. We know that we can plant the trees and have them grow. The work is not lost. I am suggesting that, using this Clark-McNary structure which has been an accepted procedure for a good many years, we go ahead on the same principle in developing the shelterbelt, adapting the shelterbelt and its organization to fit the pattern. If we could continue we would plant a small amount year by year. I think it would be well worth while for the whole region, planting lands where we know the trees will grow. During the whole period of the timber-homestead claims, going back to 1873, the farmers planted lands that would never grow trees. In spite of the conditions, there were a large number of windbreaks that have grown. Twenty percent of the original plantings have survived. Mr. CANNON. You will submit suggested language to cover the point you make, Mr. Silcox? Mr. SILCOX. Yes; and also the question of the limitation of the authorization. Mr. CANNON. What have you to say on the subject of the limitation? Mr. SILCOX. There is a 22-million dollar limitation in the bill now, covering all the States. Mr. CANNON. How much of that has been expended to date? Mr. WOLD. The annual authorization under the forest-fire cooperation section of the act is 22 million dollars. Section 4, the treeplanting section, authorizes only $100,000. The amount appropriated for 1936 is $56,379, all of which will be spent. Mr. SILCOX. That is the item Mr. Hastings described yesterday, where we are just able to help the States maintain some of the nurseries. Mr. CANNON. Where are they located? The following is a set-up of allotments for 1937 as they might be made, if a total of $70,579 is appropriated (fiscal year 1936 appropriation, $56,379; requested increase, $14,200). It should, of course, be understood that the 1937 allotments as actually made will be based on data not yet available. Mr. CANNON. Your statement of emergency funds will go in the record at this point. 47432-36-28 1. Agricultural Adjustment Administration (advances to A. A. A.): For inspection work in connection with agricultural adjustment programs. $250 Boundary surveys.. 33, 802 1,528 Research: Surveys needed for forest activities, not including topographic quadrangles or General Land Office cadastral surveys.. 3. Loans and relief in stricken agricultural areas: For preliminary work relating to the establishment of a shelterbelt area in the Great Plains region.. 1848, 979 Exclusive of amounts transferred to and obligated by other bureaus, as follows: Weather Bureau, $1,481; Bureau of Plant Industry, $10,952; Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, $12,903; Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, $8,274; and Bureau of Biological Survey, $25,500. Under this allotment studies were made of the climate, soils, native vegetation, water resources, and past planting experiences of farmers and others in the region. After this survey had been completed, about 125 miles (or 2,000 acres) of field shelterbelts were planted in strips approximately 8 rods wide; 5,100 acres of windbreaks were also planted. In addition, nurseries have been developed for the growing of seedlings to be used in the project. The funds were allocated to the following States: Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935: (a) Administrative expenses in connection with miscellaneous forestry projects. (b) Miscellaneous forestry activities, including: National-forest improvements, etc... Acquisition of additional forest lands. Plains shelter belt project... Forest research.. Total, miscellaneous projects (item b)............... (c) Administrative expenses incident to acquisition of forest lands.. (d) Acquisition of additional forest lands.. Total, emergency relief.. 20, 674 314, 950 175, 560 66, 810 117, 556 20, 671 11, 514 848, 979 Obligated, 1935 Estimated obligations, 1936 (b) The foregoing $13,827,500 for miscellaneous forestry projects has been allocated to States as follows: (d) The $12,000,000 for acquisition of additional forest lands is being used in conformity with the provisions of the act of March 1, 1911 (36 Stat. 91), as amended, and has been allocated to States as follows: |