58 STAT.] 78TH CONG., 2D SESS.-CH. 296-JUNE 28, 1944 improved, exclusive of the cost of constructing a water-supply or sanitary system and of connecting the same with any such building, and exclusive of the cost of any tower upon which a lookout house may be erected, shall not exceed $7,500, with the exception that any building erected, purchased, or acquired, the cost of which was $7,500 or more, may be improved out of the appropriations made under this Act for the Forest Service by an amount not to exceed 2 per centum of the cost of such building as certified by the Secretary; 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 for information leading to the arrest and conviction for violation of the laws and regulations relating to fires in or near national forests, 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 Washington, and for medical supplies and serv- ices and other assistance necessary for the immediate relief of artisans, laborers, and other employees engaged in any hazardous work under the Forest Service: Provided further That not to exceed $1,500 may be expended for the contribution of the United States to the cost of the office of the secretariat of the International Union of Forest Research Stations and of the Department of Timber Utili- zation of the Comite International du Bois: Provided further, That the appropriations for the work of the Forest Service shall be avail- able for meeting the expenses of warehouse maintenance and the procurement, care, and handling of supplies, equipment, and mate- rials stored therein for distribution to projects under the supervision of the Forest Service and for sale and distribution to other Govern- ment activities and to State and private agencies who cooperate with the Forest Service in fire control under terms of written cooperative 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 additional supplies and materials are procured for warehouse stocks: Provided further, That the appropriations for the work of the Forest Service available for the operation, repair, maintenance, and replace- ment of motor and other equipment may be reimbursed for use of such equipment on projects of the Forest Service chargeable to other appropriations, or on work of other Federal agencies, when requested by such agencies, reimbursement to be made from appropriations applicable to the work on which used at rental rates fixed by the Chief Forester based on the actual or estimated cost of operation, repair, maintenance, depreciation, and equipment management con- trol, and credited to appropriations currently available at the time adjustment is effected: Provided further, That the Forest Service may rent equipment for fire-control purposes to State, county, private, or other non-Federal agencies cooperating with the Forest Service in fire control under the terms of written cooperative agreements, the amount collected for such rental to be credited to appropriations currently available at the time payment is received, as follows: General administrative expenses: For necessary expenses for gen- eral administrative purposes, including the salary of the Chief For- ester at $9,200 per annum, for the necessary expenses of the National 443 Protection, etc., of national forests. Care of fish and game. Medical supplies and services. International Union of Forest Research Stations, etc. Warehouse mainte- nance, etc. Fire control. Reimbursement for use of equipment. Rental of equip- ment to non-Federal agencies.
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