71ST CONGRESS 2d Session } SENATE { REPORT No. 1088 ADDING CERTAIN LANDS TO THE ASHLEY NATIONAL FOREST, WYO. JUNE 24, 1930.-Ordered to be printed Mr. KENDRICK, from the Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 4149] The Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, to whom was referred the bill (S. 4149) to add certain lands to the Ashley National Forest, in the State of Wyoming, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that the bill do pass with the following amendments: On page 2, line 5, after the word "township" and before the word "north", strike out "13" and insert in lieu thereof "12". On page 2, line 6, after the word "range" and before the word "west", strike out "114" and insert in lieu thereof "116". The action proposed in this legislation is urgently needed to secure organized protection of the timber against fire, insect damage, and wasteful exploitation, for the maintenance of the watershed, and to remove the existing insecurity of a regulated water supply for the towns and farming settlements in the area involved on account of the present unprotected state of the forest cover. The proposed addition is contiguous to, and is a natural part of the watershed extending into the national forest in Utah, but in its present unprotected state represents an extreme hazard to efforts for the protection of that portion of the watershed which now lies within the national forest. In addition to the watershed values, it is highly important that the immediately available timber above the communities in this section shall be preserved for use and managed with a view to the perpetuity of the timber supply for the requirements of local needs. By the addition of this small area to the Ashley National Forest a way will be provided for the private owners to secure cooperation from the Federal Government in the protection of their timber. This is a vital measure, not only for providing adequate protection to the privately owned timber, but for the security of the forest cover on the watershed as a whole. In view of the existing situation, it is urged that early and favorable action be taken on this proposed legislation, and in sufficient time to permit of the application of organized protective measures to this remaining unprotected portion of the watershed before the hazards of another season endanger it. Numerous requests in the form of petitions and letters have been received from Wyoming calling attention to the urgent need for this proposed legislation, which legislation has the support of the ranchers and farmers and the civic organizations in the area involved. The letter from the Secretary of Agriculture regarding the proposed legislation, under date of April 29, 1930, is appended hereto and made a part of this report, as follows: Hon. GERALD P. NYE, Department of Agriculture, Chairman Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, United States Senate. DEAR SENATOR NYE: Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of April 19, inclos ing copy of S. 4149, "To add certain lands to the Ashley National Forest in the State of Wyoming," and asking for a report thereon. The proposed legislation would place under national forest administration certain described lands lying wholly within the State of Wyoming, aggregating approximately 39,000 acres, of which about one-third is in public ownership. The lands lie on the north slope of the Uinta Mountain Range adjoining the Ashley National Forest. The slopes, for the most part, are quite heavily timbered with lodgepole pine, Douglas fir, and aspen. The boundaries of the existing national forest were not drawn so as to include a considerable part of the timbered region, since the timber in places extends from 4 to 8 miles below the present forest boundary. Near the forest boundary the canyons vary from 200 feet to 500 feet in depth, and the hillsides have slopes ranging approximately from 30 per cent to 70 per cent. Most of the streams crossing this area head within the present forest boundaries and supply water for ranchers near Mountain View and Robertson. The proportion of different species of timber is as follows: The best estimate obtainable as to the amount of timber indicates that there are approximately 47,465,000 feet, or a sufficient amount to make 1,386,000 railroad ties. If this area were added to the Ashley National Forest the privately owned lands would then become subject to the forest exchange act, and where the owners desired could be exchanged for an equal value of national forest land or timber, where such exchange appeared to be in the public interest and the lands offered were found to be valuable for forestry purposes. Petitions at various times have been submitted to this department, urging that the lands described in the bill be given a national-forest status. Apparently from data obtained they are chiefly valuable for the growing of timber and as a watershed from which water may be had for the lands lying at a lower level and are suitable for farming purposes. If added to the Ashley National Forest, as proposed, this would not substantially increase the cost of administration of that forest. In view of the character of the lands described in the bill and the cover thereon, it is the view of this department that placing them under national forest administration would be in the public interest. The subject, however, is one which, as you know, is being considered by the President's commission on the public domain. Sincerely yours, O ARTHUR M. HYDE, Secretary. 71ST CONGRESS 2d Session } SENATE { REPORT No. 1090 BRANCH HOME OF THE NATIONAL HOME FOR DISABLED VOLUNTEER SOLDIERS IN ONE OF THE NORTHWEST PACIFIC STATES JUNE 25, 1930.-Ordered to be printed Mr. MCMASTER, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 9638] The Committee on Military Affairs, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 9638), to establish a branch home of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in one of the Northwest Pacific States, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that it do pass. The merits of the bill are set forth in the House report thereon, which is made a part of this report and reads as follows: The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 9638) to establish a branch home of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers at or near Roseburg, Oreg., introduced by Mr. Hawley, having considered the same, report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass with the following amendments: Line 5, strike out "purchase, condemnation, or otherwise," and insert in lieu thereof "donation". Line 6, strike out "at or near Roseburg, Oregon" and insert in lieu thereof "located in one of the Northwest Pacific States". Line 12, after the word "of" strike out the "$" and insert in lieu thereof "not to exceed $2,000,000”. Amend the title so as to read: “To establish a branch home of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in one of the Northwest Pacific States." The National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers consists of the National Military Home near Dayton, Ohio, and 10 branches located as follows: Pacific Branch, Soldiers' Home, near Santa Monica, Calif. Battle Mountain Sanitarium, Hot Springs, S. Dak. Western Branch, National Military Home, near Leavenworth, Kans. Danville Branch, National Home, Danville, Ill. Marion Branch, National Military Home, near Marion, Ind. Mountain Branch, National Sanitarium, near Johnson City, Tenn. Eastern Branch, National Soldiers' Home, near Augusta, Me. By reference to a map on which are indicated the locations of these soldiers' homes, it will be noted that in all the district from Los Angeles, Calif., to the Canadian line and from the Pacific to the eastern edge of Wyoming and Montana, there is no national soldiers' home. General Wood in commenting on the establishment of a home in this area has stated: The Board of Managers, two or three years ago, after studying the increasing curve of membership in the home, came to the conclusion that after extending the facilities at present homes as far as practicable, several additional homes would be required, and one of them was to be located in the Pacific Northwest. This was the recommendation made by the board at the September, 1928, meeting, and, of course, & home in either Oregon or Washington would meet this recommendation of the beard. The board is of the opinion that a branch home to be economically managed should have a capacity of 1,500 to 2,000 men and not 500, as suggested in your letter. Our smallest home to-day is the Eastern Branch at Togus, Me., where we have facilities for many more than come there, but our other homes, with the exception of the small one at Battle Mountain Sanitarium, Hot Springs, S. Dak., have a capacity of from 1,500 to 3,500 men. If I were planning a home in the Pacific Northwest with the heavily growing population you have and the demand as we see it for soldiers' homes in the next 10 or 15 years, I would plan for at least 1,500 men. This would include a hospital, with capacity of, say, 250 to 300 beds, for we find that in the neighborhood of 25 per cent of our population will be in and out of the hospital, and barracks, with capacity of 1,200 men; say four barracks, the type of those recently built in California, each with a capacity of 300 men; in addition to this a headquarters building, a general mess, quartermaster's storehouse, a central power plant, for we have found it more economical and much more safe, as far as fire hazard is concerned, to have a central power station; in most of the homes we have connected with the boiler-house generating machines, with which electric power and light is generated. This will give you a fair idea of what the board feels any new home established should have. It is hard to estimate the cost, but I should say between $2,000,000 and $2,500,000 would about fill the bill. During the last winter we have turned away over 1,500 men from Sawtelle in southern California. Additional barracks are now being constructed which will take care of part of the demand, but when three years have passed, the time it would take to get authorization for construction, appropriation, and construction completed, you will find the demand on the Pacific coast will require the facilities as set forth in this letter. Very sincerely, GEORGE H. WOOD, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. General Hines, the Director of the United States Veterans' Bureau, was also asked for his views on this subject, and he has written as follows: This will acknowledge receipt of your letter of April 25, 1930, concerning the bill introduced by you for the establishment of a National Soldiers' Home at Roseburg, Oreg. The bureau upon considering the location of the existing National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, believes that a branch thereof located in the Northwest would best serve the States of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. It develops that the military population of these three States during the World War was approximately 3 per cent of the total for the entire country. The 11 branches of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers on March 31, 1930, had 21,216 members actually present. Accordingly, if there is applied to the present membership the percentage of World War veterans furnished by the abovementioned States, there would result an estimated load of approximately 630 cases from the area in which you are interested. The potential future membership of the same section, based upon the expected increased load of the Soldiers' Homes, according to their own estimates for the entire country, would in 1936 total over 900 cases, and in 1941 approximately, 1,350. Your interest in this matter is appreciated. Very truly yours, FRANK T. HINES, Director. Gen. George H. Wood, president of the Board of Managers, has stated to your committee several times during the past session that it is the opinion of the board that additional branch homes should be arranged for at this time. The demand for domiciliary care of veterans is increasing each year. On January 31, 1930, there were present at the various branch homes a total of 21,595 persons. The average increase in this demand has been greater than 10 per cent per annum, but averaging the increase at 10 per cent there will be required in 1935 facilities for 34,500 persons and in 20 years it is estimated 50,000 persons will be applying for such care. As General Wood pointed out there is no duplication of Veterans' Bureau hospitalization activities in this connection. A soldiers' home is not a hospital. It is for the domiciliary care of veterans. Your committee has amended this bill to provide for the donation of a site in one of the Northwest Pacific States. However, the author of the bill, Mr. Hawley, states that at Roseburg, Oreg., there is a State home situated on about 40 acres of good land with adjoining land that can be acquired. He advised your committee that if this legislation is adopted he has information from the leaders of both the State Senate and House of Representatives of Oregon that the State legislature will turn over this property without cost to the Government. However, your committee deemed it wise to authorize the Board of Managers to go into the subject fully and determine after full consideration just what point in that area should be selected. A full hearing was held by your committee on the subject, and in view of the increased needs as outlined therein, it is urged that action should be taken during this Congress that will insure proper care for veterans as the need arises. The letters of the Secretary of War and the president of the Board of Managers are as follows: Hon. W. FRANK JAMES, MAY 9, 1930. Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. JAMES: With further reference to your request of February 8 for a report on H. R. 9638, Seventy-first Congress, second session, to establish a branch home of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers at or near Roseburg, Oreg., there is inclosed a copy of a report from Gen. George H. Wood, president of the Board of Managers of the Home, relative to Senate bill 2368, which is identical in its terms with H. R. 9638. This report was transmitted to the chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs of the Senate on March 3, 1930, with the statement that in view of the pending bill (H. R. 6141) to authorize the President to consolidate and coordinate governmental activities affecting war veterans, the department was unable to recommend the passage of S. 2368. H. R. 10630 for this purpose has passed the House. Sincerely yours, To the SECRETARY OF WAR, War Department, Washington, D. C. F. TRUBEE DAVISON, NATIONAL MILITARY HOME, In conformity with your indorsement of February 8, letter of the Budget officer of February 21, and letter of the Director of the Budget of February 20, 1930, these papers are returned to you to be forwarded to the Senate Committee on Military Affairs with the following report: The Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, at the September, 1928, meeting, made a very careful survey of the increasing demand for soldiers' home service and adopted the following policy: That existing homes should be expanded as far as practicable, considering topography, etc., to a maximum capacity of 4,000 members, but they felt that with the heavily increasing demand for home service this would not meet the requirements placed upon the home under the law, and, therefore, suggested that additional homes situated at strategic places in the country should be authorized and established. One of the homes suggested was to be located in the Pacific Northwest, as there is only one home on the Pacific coast, at Los Angeles, Calif., in the extreme Pacific Southwest, and with the heavily increasing population of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, it was felt that a home would be needed in that territory. As to Roseburg, Oreg., the site suggested, the board have no knowledge of the SR-71-2-VOL 2- -84 |