[H. R. 11944]

AN ACT

To facilitate execution of and economy in field season contracts of the Forest Service.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of Agriculture is hereafter authorized in connection with the administration of the national forests to enter into contracts for the procurement of services, materials, and supplies for the ensuing fiscal year, prior to the passage of an appropriation therefor: Provided, That such contracts shall aliquot the cost for such service by fiscal years and shall not be binding on the United States as to that part for the ensuing year unless and until an appropriation applicable to the payment thereof is made: And provided further, That all such contracts shall by their terms provide that the obligation of the United States is contingent upon the passage of an applicable appropriation and that no payment thereunder will be made until such appropriation becomes available for expenditure.

Approved, June 30, 1932.

(16)

[H. R. 10782]

An Act To facilitate and simplify the work of the Forest Service.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That so much of the Act approved March 4, 1913, as provides: "That hereafter the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to reimburse owners of horses, vehicles, and other equipment lost, damaged, or destroyed while being used for necessary fire fighting, trail, or official business, such reimbursement to be made from any available funds in the appropriation to which the hire of such equipment is properly chargeable." (Section 502, title 16, United States Code) is hereby amended to read as follows: "The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, under such regulations as he may prescribe:

"(a) To hire or rent property from employees of the Forest Service for the use of officers of that service other than use by the employee from whom hired or rented, whenever the public interest will be promoted thereby: Provided, That the aggregate amount to be paid permanent employees under authorization of this subsection, exclusive of obligations occasioned by fire emergencies, shall not exceed $3,000 in any one year.

"(b) To provide forage, care, and housing for animals, and storage for vehicles and other equipment obtained by the Forest Service for the use of that service from employees.

"(c) To reimburse owners for loss, damage, or destruction of horses, vehicles, and other equipment obtained by the Forest Service for the use of that service from employees or other private owners: Provided, That payments or reimbursements herein authorized may be made from the applicable appropriations for the Forest Service: And provided further, That except for fire-fighting emergencies no reimbursement herein authorized shall be made in an amount in excess of $50 in any case unless supported by a written contract of hire or lease."

Approved, January 31, 1931.

(17)

(S. 3556)

An Act To insure adequate supplies of timber and other forest products for the people of the United States, to promote the full use for timber growing and other purposes of forest lands in the United States, including farm wood lots and those abandoned areas not suitable for agricultural production, and to secure the correlation and the most economical conduct of forest research in the Department of Agriculture, through research in reforestation, timber growing, protection, utilization, forest economics, and related subjects, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized and directed to conduct such investigations, experiments, and tests as he may deem necessary under sections 2 to 10, inclusive, in order to determine, demonstrate, and promulgate the best methods of reforestation and of growing, managing, and utilizing timber, forage, and other forest products, of maintaining favorable conditions of water flow and the prevention of erosion, of protecting timber and other forest growth from fire, insects, disease, or other harmful agencies, of obtaining the fullest and most effective use of forest lands, and to determine and promulgate the economic considerations which should underlie the establishment of sound policies for the management of forest land and the ultilization of forest products: Provided, That in carrying out the provisions of this Act the Secretary of Agriculture may cooperate with individuals and public and private agencies, organizations, and institutions, and, in connection with the collection, investigation, and tests of foreign woods, he may also cooperate with individuals and public and private agencies, organizations, and institutions in other countries; and receive money contributions from cooperators under such conditions as he may impose, such contributions to be covered into the Treasury as a special fund which is hereby appropriated and made available until expended as the Secretary of Agriculture may direct, for use in conducting the activities authorized by this Act, and in making refunds to contributors: Provided further, That the cost of any building purchased, erected, or as improved in carrying out the purposes of this Act shall not exceed $2,500, exclusive in each instance of the cost of constructing a water supply or sanitary system and of connecting the same with any such building: Provided further, That the amounts specified in sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10 of this Act are authorized to be appropriated up to and including the fiscal year 1938, and such annual appropriations as may thereafter be necessary to carry out the provisions of said sections are hereby authorized: Provided further, That during any fiscal year the amounts specified in sections 3, 4, and 5 of this Act making provision for investigations of forest tree and wood diseases, forest insects, and forest wild life, respectively, may be exceeded to provide adequate funds for special research required to meet any serious public emergency relating to epidemics: And provided further, That the provisions of this Act shall be construed as supplementing all other Acts relating to the Department of Agriculture, and except as specifically provided shall not limit or repeal any existing legislation or authority.

SEO. 2. That for conducting fire, silvicultural, and other forest investigations and experiments the Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized, in his discretion, to maintain the following forest experiment stations for the regions indicated, and in addition to establish and maintain one such station for the Intermountain region in Utah and adjoining States, one in Alaska, and one in the tropical possessions of the United States in the West Indies:

Northeastern forest experiment station, in New England, New York, and adjacent States;

Allegheny forest experiment station, in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and in neighboring States;

Appalachian forest experiment station, in the southern Appalachian Mountains and adjacent forest regions;

Southern forest experiment station, in the Southern States;

Central States forest experiment station, in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa, and in adjacent States;

Lake States forest experiment station, in the Lake States and adjoining States;

California forest experiment station, in California and in adjoining States;

Northern Rocky Mountain forest experiment station, in Idaho, Montana, and adjoining States;

Northwestern forest experiment station, in Washington, Oregon, and adjoining States, and in Alaska;

Rocky Mountain forest experiment station, in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, and in adjacent States; and

Southwestern forest experiment station, in Arizona, and New Mexico, and in adjacent States, and in addition to establish and maintain one such station for the intermountain region of Utah and adjoining States, one for Alaska, one in Hawaii, and one in the tropical possessions of the United States in the West Indies, and one additional station in the Southern States.

There is hereby authorized to be appropriated annually out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, not more than $1,000,000 to carry out the provisions of this section.

SEC. 3. That for investigations of the diseases of forest trees and of diseases causing decay and deterioration of wood and other forest products, and for developing methods for their prevention and control at forest experiment stations, the Forest Products Laboratory, or elsewhere, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated annually, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, not more than $250,000.

SEC. 4. That for investigations of forests insects, including gypsy and browntail moths, injurious or beneficial to forest trees or to wood or other forest products, and for developing methods for preventing and controlling infestations, at forest experiment stations, the Forest Products Laboratory, or elsewhere, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated annually, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, not more than $350,000.

SEC. 5. That for such experiments and investigations as may be necessary in determining the life histories and habits of forest animals, birds, and wild life, whether injurious to forest growth or of value as supplemental resource, and in developing the best and most effective methods for their management and control at forest

experiment stations, or elsewhere, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated annually, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, not more than $150,000.

SEC. 6. That for such investigations at forest experiment stations, or elsewhere, of the relationship of weather conditions to forest fires as may be necessary to make weather forecasts, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated annually, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, not more than $50,000.

SEC. 7. That for such experiments and investigations as may be necessary to develop improved methods of management, consistent with the growing of timber and the protection of watersheds, of forest ranges and of other ranges adjacent to the national forests, at forest or range experiment stations, or elsewhere, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated annually, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, not more than $275,000.

SEC. 8. That for experiments, investigations, and tests with respect to the physical and chemical properties and the utilization and preservation of wood and other forest products, including tests of wood and other fibrous material for pulp and paper making, and such other experiments, investigations, and tests as may be desirable, at the Forest Products Laboratory or elsewhere, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated annually, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, not more than $1,000,000, and an additional appropriation of not more than $50,000 annually for similar experiments, investigations, and tests of foreign woods and forest products important to the industries of the United States, including necessary field work in connection therewith.

SEC. 9. That the Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized and directed, under such plans as he may determine to be fair and equitable, to cooperate with appropriate officials of each State of the United States, and either through them or directly with private and other agencies, in making a comprehensive survey of the present and prospective requirements for timber and other forest products in the United States, and of timber supplies, including a determination of the present and potential productivity of forest land therein, and of such other facts as may be necessary in the determination of ways and means to balance the timber budget of the United States. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated annually, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, not more than $250,000: Provided, That the total appropriation of Federal funds under this section shall not exceed $3,000,000.

SEC. 10. That for such investigations of costs and returns and the possibility of profitable reforestation under different conditions in the different forest regions, of the proper function of timber growing in diversified agriculture and in insuring the profitable use of marginal land, in mining, transportation, and in other industries, of the most effective distribution of forest products in the interest of both consumer and timber grower, and for such other economic investigations of forest lands and forest products as may be necessary, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated annually, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, not more than $250,000.

Approved, May 22, 1928.