PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 421 -JUNE 25, 1940 Protection, el national forests. Care of flis game. Medical sn etc. Warehouse tenance, etc. Rent of equ to other Federa cies. Administrati penses. 36 Stat. 963. National for tection and n ment. Aerial fire co Maintenan roads and trail Proaiso. Direct pI etc. tc. of as certified by the Secretary of Agriculture; to protect, administer, and improve the national forests, including tree planting and other measures to prevent erosion, drift, surface wash, soil waste, and the formation of floods, and to conserve water and including the payment of rewards under regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture for information leading to the arrest and conviction for violation of the laws and regulations relating to fires in or near national forests, and or for the unlawful taking of, or injury to, Government property; to ascertain the natural conditions upon and utilize the national forests to transport and care for fish and game supplied to stock the national forests or the waters therein; to collate, digest, report, and illustrate the results of experiments and investigations made by the Forest Service; to purchase lawbooks, reference and technical books, and technical journals for officers of the Forest Service stationed outside of Washing- ppUies ton, and for medical supplies and services and other assistance neces- sary for the immediate relief of artisans, laborers, and other employees engaged in any hazardous work under the Forest Service: Provided m ain - further, That the appropriations for the work of the Forest Service shall be available for meeting the expenses of warehouse maintenance and the procurement, care, and handling of supplies, equipment, and materials stored therein for distribution to projects under the super- vision of the Forest Service and for sale and distribution to other Government activities and to State and private agencies who cooperate with the Forest Service in fire control under terms of written coopera- tive agreements, the cost of such supplies, equipment, and materials, including the cost of supervision, transportation, warehousing, and handling, to be reimbursed to appropriations current at the time addi- tional supplies and materials are procured for warehouse stocks: pr at Provided further, That the Forest Service may rent equipment to other Federal agencies at rates sufficient to reimburse the appropria- tions of the Forest Service that would otherwise be chargeable with the cost of the repair, maintenance, and depreciation of such equip- ment, as follows: ve . General administrative expenses: For necessary expenses for gen- eral administrative purposes, including the salary of the Chief Forester, for the necessary expenses of the National Forest Reserva- tion Commission as authorized by section 14 of the Act of March 1, 1911 (16 U. S . C . 514), and for other personal services in the District of Columbia, $600,000. Sanage National forest protection and management: For the administra- tion, protection, use, maintenance improvement, and development of the national forests, including the establishment and maintenance of forest tree nurseries, including the procurement of tree seed and ntro nursery stock by purchase, production, or otherwise, seeding and tree planting and the care of plantations and young growth; the mainte- of nance and operation of aerial fire control by contract or otherwise; . the maintenance of roads and trails and the construction and mainte- nance of all other improvements necessary for the proper and economical administration, protection, development, and use of the national forests, including experimental areas under Forest Service chases. administration: Provided,That where, in the opinion of the Secretary of Agriculture, direct purchases will be more economical than con- struction, improvements may be purchased; the construction, equip- ment, and maintenance of sanitary, fire preventive, and recreational facilities; control of destructive forest tree diseases and insects; timber cultural operations; development and application of fish and game management plans; propagation and transplanting of plants suitable for planting on semiarid portions of the national forests; estimating and appraising of timber and other resources and develop- 546 [54 STAT.
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