Forests," to the end that the program, in substantially its published form, may become the official policy of the Congress and supported by the necessary funds. This is to be considered as a personal expression from me, based on my background and experience, but is not to be construed as expressing an official position in behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Sincerely yours, WM. VOIGT, Jr., Executive Director. Hon. GEORGE M. GRANT, Chairman, Subcommittee on Forests, CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, N. MEX., Agriculture Committee, U.S. House of DEAR CONGRESSMAN GRANT: It has come to my attention that the subcommittee of which you are chairman has under consideration a long-range program for conservation and development of the national forests. I want to take this opportunity to express, on behalf of the Albuquerque City Commission, the interest of the people of Albuquerque and vicinity in this program. Albuquerque is located on a semiarid plateau in mountainous country, which has benefited and is benefiting greatly from conservation efforts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. Specifically, residents and visitors to this area have benefited from the following activities: 1. Forest control.-Intensified fire prevention and control of insect infestation and disease have contributed to the conservation of the area's forest land. 2. Recreation.-Improvement and maintenance of recreation facilities, including camping and picnic areas, wilderness areas, and wildlife refuges, have provided many recreational opportunities that would not have existed but for the intelligent management of our national forests. More than 1 million visitors annually use the facilities in the Sandia Mountains area east of Albuquerque alone. 3. Roads. The national forest road system has opened many areas previously inaccessible to visitors. The increased accessibility has not only provided greater opportunities for recreation but has contributed to timber and game management activities. 4. Flood control.-Construction of upstream flood control structures, stabilization of stream channels and gullies, and stabilization of watersheds through planting and maintenance of ground cover have reduced the threat of downriver flooding to which areas of the Rio Grande River Valley have been subject. An important corollary result of this activity has been control of erosion and conservation of valuable topsoil which this area cannot afford to lose. Albuquerque is the hub of a region which is experiencing a dramatic and unparalleled population increase. The presently estimated population of 210,000 persons in Albuquerque represents more than a 100-percent increase over the 1950 population figure. Projections indicate an even greater rate of population increase over the next 10 years. It does not require much imagination to visualize the strain this increased population will place on the national forest facilities-particularly in an area such as Albquerque where natural recreation facilities are somewhat limited. The long-range program which you have under consideration, therefore, is particularly timely and urgently needed. I sincerely hope that your hearings are fruitful. I want to urge that your subcommittee in its deliberations does not underestimate the needs of the Southwest and the potential of the national forests for satisfying these needs. Respectfully yours, EDMUND L. ENGEL, City Manager. MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION, Hon. GEORGE M. GRANT, DEAR MR. GRANT: The program of the U.S. Forest Service, as broadly outlined in the recently released "Program for the National Forests," is of great interest and importance to all forest-land owners, whether Federal, State or private. We in Michigan have a great stake in the program of the national forests, for in many places these forests share common boundaries with our State forests, and the management programs of our two agencies are definitely interrelated. We are especially pleased with the plan to intensify multiple-use management in the fields of wildlife and recreation. Of great importance to us also are the plans for continuation and expansion of research investigations along several of the lines mentioned in this report, since we rely heavily on U.S. Forest Service leadership in research for the answers to many of our own State and private forest problems. Those proposals relating to insect and disease control, watershed management, silviculture, genetics, and wood utilization are of particular concern to this State, and to other States in this area. The recommended Forest Service development and research programs, while aimed primarily at the national forests, are thus of immeasurable value to other forest lands as well, and can make a profound contribution to the future of our total forest resource and its use. We sincerely urge the support of the proposals contained in this report. Yours very truly, GERALD E. EDDY, Director. PLUMAS COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, Representative GEORGE M. GRANT, HONORABLE REPRESENTATIVE GRANT: Enclosed you will find a certified copy of a resolution adopted by the Plumas County Board of Supervisors on May 25, 1959, at a special meeting of the board. Very truly yours, LOIS KEHRER, County Clerk and Ex Officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. RESOLUTION 1069 Whereas the county of Plumas, State of California, is vitially interested in the protection and development of the natural resources of the Plumas National Forest; and Whereas approximately 85 percent of the Plumas National Forest lies within the boundary of said Plumas County; and Whereas considerable acreage of the Plumas National Forest is either nonproductive or understocked from a timber standpoint; and Whereas the economy of Plumas County is largely dependent upon a sustained harvest of timber from national forest land; and Whereas the development of recreation facilities on national forest land has not been sufficient to meet public demand: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Board of Supervisors of the County of Plumas, State of California, urge serious consideration be given by the Congress of the United States in providing finances to meet the program for the national forests which was submitted to Congress by the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States on March 24, 1959; be it further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution shall be forwarded by the clerk of this board to Senator Engle and Congressman Johnson, and to Representative George M. Grant, of the State of Alabama. The foregoing resolution was duly passed and adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Plumas, State of California, at a special meeting of said board, held on the 25th day of May 1959, by the following vote: Ayes: Supervisors Cloman, Jeskey, Purdy, Donnenwirth, and Humphrey. Abesent: None. E. J. HUMPHREY. Attest: [SEAL] LOIS KEHRER, County Clerk and Ex Officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. I certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Resolution 1069 adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Plumas County, Calif., on May 25, 1959. Attest, May 25, 1959. LOIS KEHRER, County Clerk and Ex Officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. Hon. HAROLD D. COOLEY, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. COOLEY: The proposed program for the development of national forests, recently transmitted to Congress by the Secretary of Agriculture, marks, I believe, a milestone in a conservation program to use to the best advantage of the Nation one of our most important natural resources. I have studied an extensive summary of the proposal and heartily endorse this program as a sound approach to the preservation, improvement, development, and full use of our forest land resources. I trust that your committee and the Congress will see fit to implement the program as rapidly and as completely as the financial resources of the Nation permit. We who are training young men to devote their energies and abilities to the protection and development of this renewable resource have of necessity given much thought to its present contribution to our national economy and its capacity under full development and proper management to meet our national needs. Anything less than the program proposed will fall short of the goal. Very sincerely yours, J. NELSON SPAETH, Head, Department of Forestry. STATEMENT BY ROBERT T. RADFORD, CHAIRMAN, LOS ANGELES COUNTY WATERSHED COMMISSION, ENDORSING A PROGRAM FOR THE NATIONAL FORESTS We respectfully request that the following statement be included in the record of your May 14 and 15 hearings on the program for the national forests presented to Congress by Secretary of Agriculture Benson. The Los Angeles County Watershed Commission is an official body created by a 1954 ordinance by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The commission works with Federal, State, city and county and other governmental and private agencies to preserve the watersheds of Los Angeles County. It is also concerned with the control and conservation of floodwaters in the county. Los Angeles County will soon have 6 million inhabitants. One quarter of the area of the county is within the Angeles National Forest. If the millions of residents living below the Angeles Forest are to be protected from disastrous floods and at the same time receive the maximum amount of usable water, it is imperative that the highly inflammable natural cover of these mountain watersheds be protected from fire. The entire economy of the Los Angeles coastal plain depends upon its water supply and 55.5 percent of all water consumed here is produced from local underground sources. Much of this water comes from the rain and snow which falls on the watersheds of the Angeles National Forest. Because of this dependence on the local watershed, we have appeared a number of times before other congressional committees to urge that sufficient funds be provided the Forest Service to enable them to do an adequate job of fire protection in the Angeles Forest. In addition to our dependence on the Angeles Forest, most of the water imported to the county comes from the watersheds of other national forests of the Southwest. We will continue to have an ever-increasing dependence on national forest watersheds to meet the water needs of this area. We will also need increasing amounts of the other national forest resources such as wood products and recreational facilities. For these reasons we are in accord with the program for the national forests and urge its prompt adoption and implementation. STATEMENT OF ROBERT T. RADFORD, PRESIDENT, WATERSHED FIRE COUNCIL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, CONCERNING THE PROGRAM FOR THE NATIONAL FORESTS The Watershed Fire Council of Southern California is a citizens' organization comprised of representatives from the areas of the four national forests of southern California. Since the council was formed in 1954, we have worked continuously to improve forest fire protection in these forests. We have ap peared before congressional Appropriations Committees several times to stress the need for the appropriation of adequate funds for this purpose. More than 9 million residents of southern California depend in varying degrees on these national forests for water and recreation. The steep mountain slopes within these forests create potentially disastrous flood situations when the natural cover is destroyed by fire. We have consistently urged that a full protection and development program for these forests be prepared and implemented. For these reasons we are heartily in accord with the program for the national forests which Secretary of Agriculture Benson presented to Congress on March 24, 1959. The early implementation of this program will provide for full protection and development of the national forests under a policy of multiple-use management of all forest resources. We congratulate your committee for your prompt action in considering this important matter, important not only to southern California, but to the entire United States. STATEMENT OF MAURICE K. GODDARD, SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTS AND WATERS, COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA An expanded program by the U.S. Forest Service is necessary as our economy expands with an ever-increasing population. Increased wood production is synonymous with more intensive forest management. This requires an expanded road system. In addition to supplying necessary wood resources, cash receipts are increased, and many important new jobs are created all along the line. Proper forest and range management are basic to our future water supplies. In many parts of the West, water is already the limiting resource to future development. There, over half of the waterflow begins on national forests. Increased recreational areas and facilities are urgently needed because of our increasing population, increase in leisure time, and a greatly improved road system. The contribution of outdoor recreation to mental and physical health is immeasurable. Protection of our forests from fire, insects, and diseases becomes increasingly important and necessary as management practices become more intense and production is increased. The role of research is now of greater than normal importance because of the challenge of increased production of wood, water, meat, hides, wool, wildlife, and recreation necessary to cope with our expanding economy. This involves such fields as the production of better trees through genetics; determining what type of timber harvest practices increases streamflow; developing new techniques to improve wildlife habitat; and preventing or reducing the loss of life and damage to property resulting from floods. Speaking for Pennsylvania, our State and our people receive many direct benefits from the Forest Service by joining in cooperative programs. With financial help by grant-in-aid programs, we are able to do a much better job in our forest fire prevention and control program. This united effort was first instituted in 1921. The results of this program speak for themselves in reduction of forest fires and greater promotion of forestry activities. Another cooperative program instituted several years ago in Pennsylvania brings great and lasting benefits to the forestry activities of the small woodlot owners of this State (which incidentally comprises 40 percent of the forest holdings in the State). I cannot speak too strongly in favor of this program of technical advice and assistance which increases timber values, watershed protection, and recreational and wildlife benefits. These services are available to the 275,000 woodland owners of Pennsylvania. Mr. GEORGE M. GRANT, STATE OF NEW MEXICO, THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT, Subcommittee on Forestry, House Agriculture Committee, New House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. GRANT: I have just read a report prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture relative to a program for the national forests. This report is of special importance to the people here in the western areas. Particularly in the Alamogordo area, our nearby mountains are of great importance as our national forest land plays a great part in our living. In addition to its use as a watershed and a source of timber for our local industries, it is used extensively as a recreation area for both adults and the youth of this section. The program proposed by this report would benefit a large number of people. The national forest is a natural area for extensive use by many youth groups. The Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and various other youth organizations camp and study nature in the area. On weekends families by the many hundreds drive into the cool mountains to picnic sites provided by the Forest Service. Even today these areas are crowded, and new campgrounds are urgently needed. Speaking on behalf of the members of the entire District Youth Commission, I would respectfully urge your support of this proposed program for the national forests. Sincerely yours, FRANK G. CARR, Jr., Chairman. SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, Hon. GEORGE M. GRANT, Chairman, Subcommittee on Forestry, House Agriculture Committee, DEAR CONGRESSMAN GRANT: The Northern California County Supervisors Association is an association of the nine northern counties of California. Shasta County is a member of this association. In 1958 the industrial and recreation committee of this association studied the program of the Forest Service and adopted a program designed to develop the natural resources of the national forests of the nine member counties. This was adopted by the full membership and executive committee in its entirety. A copy of this program is enclosed for the record. Our review of "Program for the National Forests," as published in March 1959, by the Secretary of Agriculture, indicates our proposal is consistent with the program outlined therein. As a result the Shasta County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution endorsing the two aforementioned programs at their regular board meeting on May 4, 1959. A copy of said resolution is enclosed. I have been instructed to urge your committee to consider favorably the program as outlined by the Secretary of Agriculture, along with the program adopted by the Northern California County Supervisors Association and further to do all within your power to implement the program at the earliest possible date. Respectfully, RESOLUTION NORMAN A. WAGONER, Chairman. Whereas the Shasta County Board of Supervisors has been advised that a hearing will be held by the Subcommittee on Forests of the House Agricultural Committee on May 14 and 15, 1959; and Whereas a review by the Shasta County Board of Supervisors of the communication of the Secretary of Agriculture transmitting a report relative to a program for the national forests had been found to be a program designed to facilitate management of the national forests in our area; and Whereas this program, as outlined by the Secretary of Agriculture, is found to be consistent with a resource development program, submitted to our organization by the regional forester of the California region of the U.S. Forest Service at our request: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Shasta County Board of Supervisors, That the chairman of the board communicate with the subcommittee and express its concurrence in the program as outlined in the Secretary of Agriculture's program and more specifically, the resource development program, and urge them to act favorably upon the implementation of a program designed to accomplish the objectives outlined in the two programs. |