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INCLUSION OF CERTAIN LANDS IN THE COEUR D'ALENE AND ST. JOE NATIONAL FORESTS, STATE OF IDAHO

FEBRUARY 8, 1932.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. SMITH of Idaho, from the Committee on the Public Lands, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 6659]

The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred (H. R. 6659), providing for the inclusion of certain lands in the Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe National Forests, State of Idaho, and for other proposes, having considered the same, recommend that it do pass with the following amendments:

Page 1, line 6, after the word "States" insert a comma and the following words: "subject to existing valid claims", followed by a

comma.

Page 2, line 24, strike out lines 24 and 25 on page 2 and all of page 3 down to and including line 12 and in lieu thereof insert:

Sections 13, 24, 25, 34, 35, and 36, and that portion of sections 1, 11, 12, the south half of section 27, and all of sections 28 and 33 east of the east boundary of the former Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation, township 46 north, range 2 west.

All of township 47 north, range 1 east.

All that portion of township 47 north range 1 west, not included in the former Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation.

Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36, township 47 north, range 2 east.

Lot 2, section 36, township 47 north, range 2 west.

Sections 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36, township 48 north, range 1 west.

Sections 25 and 36, township 48 north, range 2 west.

Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36, township 48 north, range 1 east.

The latter amendment has been recommended by the committee for the purpose of eliminating 6,498 acres of land that in the bill as introduced was found to be within the boundaries of the former Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation and also for the purpose of eliminating

certain limited areas in township 47 north, ranges 1 and 2 east, and range 1 west, certain areas in township 47 north, range 2 west, certain areas in township 48 north, range 1 east, and range 1 west, and certain areas in township 48 north, range 2 west. In the case of the Indian reservation land it was felt that as long as these lands are owned by Coeur d'Alene Indians either individually or as a tribe no good purpose could be served by including them within the area described in the bill. In the matter of the other lands eliminated from the bill it was felt that they are so highly mineralized that it would be better that they be omitted from the area under the terms of the bill.

The bill proposes to make available for inclusion within the Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe National Forests an area of land that has been described by the Department of Agriculture as "mountainous timbered region aggregating about 500,000 acres.'

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Originally this land was practically all heavily timbered excepting the more rocky and barren portions. Most of the land involved passed to private ownership between 30 and 40 years ago, and has been denuded of its timber. The land has very small value outside of its value for forest and grazing purposes, and, indeed, some of the land is reverting to the counties in which it is located for nonpayment of taxes. Having little value, the land is neglected and is a constant source of fire hazard to adjacent lands.

It is believed that for the general good of the country in which the area is located the land should be made a part of the national forests. This course would permit the land to be supervised as are the adjacent areas that are within national forests and the process of reforesting could be carried on under the protection of national forests.

The bill in the present Congress was originally introduced as H. R. 414, and upon the suggestion of the Forest Service it was redrafted so as to take the form appearing in H. R. 6659, the areas described in the bill remaining practically the same, the essential change occurring in the language making the area available for selection under the act of March 20, 1922, instead of transferring the area directly to the national forests.

The general purposes of the bill have been recommended by the following groups:

1. The board of county commissioners of Kootenai County, Idaho, under date of November 9, 1931.

2. The board of county commissioners of Shoshone County, Idaho, under date of January 15, 1932.

3. The county commissioners of Benewah County, Idaho, under date of November 17, 1931.

4. The county commissioners of Latah County, Idaho, under date of December 7, 1931.

5. The Wallace (Idaho) Board of Trade, with certain amendments (which have been adopted) under date of December 30, 1931.

6. The Idaho State Chamber of Commerce under date of January, 1932.

7. The St. Maries (Idaho) Chamber of Commerce, St. Maries, Idaho, under date of December 17, 1931.

8. The North Idaho Chamber of Commerce, under date of December 9, 1931.

9. The Coeur d'Alene Timber Protective Association, with a proviso that certain lands be eliminated under date of December 31, 1931.

10. The North Idaho Forestry Association, under date of December 12, 1931.

These indorsements are attached hereto

OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,

KOOTENAI COUNTY,

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, November 9, 1931.

The board of county commissioners met pursuant to recess taken at 9 o'clock a. m., and were called to order by the chairman, E. O. Cathcart. Present: E. O. Cathcart, Emmet M. Barnes, and John Fleming, commissioners. The minutes of the previous session were read and approved.

At this time the board, by a unanimous vote, adopted the following resolution:

RESOLUTION

The commissioners of Kootenai County, recognizing the problem which now faces the several counties of North Idaho with respect to cut-over and burnedover forest lands, do hereby recommend that our Members in Congress propose and support all the necessary amendments to the Federal laws which will permit the extension through presidential proclamation or otherwise of national forest boundaries to include such cut and burned forest lands which are not now in the national forest boundaries and which can be more adequately protected and administered as national forests than in their present status, and hereby indorse a bill making additions to the St. Joe and Coeur d'Alene National Forests extending to adjoining lands under the provisions of the act of March 20, 1922. (Public 173.)

STATE OF IDAHO,

County of Kootenai, 88:

I, W. C. Quarles, clerk of the board of county commissioners in and for the county and State aforesaid, do hereby certify the within and foregoing to be a full, true, and correct copy of the whole thereof of resolution of the commissioners of Kootenai County, Idaho, as the same appears of record in my office in Book J of Commissioner's Journal, at page 369.

In estimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal this 12th day of December, 1931.

W. C. QUARLES, Clerk of Board of County Commissioners.

COUNTY OF SHOSHONE, STATE OF IDAHO,
Wallace, Idaho, January 15, 1932.

Hon. BURTON L. FRENCH,
House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.
DEAR MR. FRENCH: The following is a copy of a resolution unanimously
adopted by the Board of County Commissioners of Shoshone County to-day:

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Whereas Congressman Burton L. French has introduced in the House of Representatives a bill known as H. R. 414, to extend the provisions of the act approved March 20, 1922, to certain additional lands in the State of Idaho, and to add certain public lands to the Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe National Forests; and "Whereas a study of the proposals contained in said bill has been made by the members of this board; and

"Whereas the commissioners of Shoshone County, recognizing the problem which now faces the several counties of north Idalio with respect to cut-over and burned-over forest lands, do hereby recommend that our Members in Congress support all the necessary amendments to the Federal laws which will permit the extension through presidential proclamation or otherwise, of national forest boundaries, to include such forest lands which are not now in the national forest boundaries, and which can be more adequately protected and administered as national forests than in their present status: Now, therefore, be it

"Resolved, That said proposed legislation, with an amendment to revise the northern boundary line of the area to be included within the national forests, be, and the same is hereby, approved."

Very truly yours,

HR-72-1-VOL 1-36

HARRY A. ROGERS, Clerk Board County Commissioners.

Senator WM. E. BORAH,

Senator JOHN R. THOMAS,
Representative BURTON L. FRENCH,
Representative ADDISON T. SMITH,

COUNTY OF BENEWAH,

St. Maries, Idaho, November 17, 1932.

Idaho National Congressional Delegation in Washington, D. C.:

The Commissioners of Benewah County, after consulting with various citizens of the county familiar with the problem presented in this resolution, and after making their own thorough investigation, studying the report of the extensive investigation of Forester E. A. Sherman to Mr. French, and concurring in most part with his views, do recognize the problem which now faces the several counties of north Idaho with respect to cut-over and burned-over forest lands, do hereby recommend that our Members in Congress propose and support all the necessary amendments to the Federal laws which will permit the extension through presidential proclamation or otherwise, of national forest boundaries to include such forest lands which are not now in the national forest boundaries and which can be more adequately protected and administered as national forests than in their present status and hereby indorse a bill making additions to the St. Joe and Coeur d'Alene National Forests extending to adjoining lands the provisions of the act of March 20, 1922. (Public 173.)

Respectfully yours,

E. R. WUNDERLICH,

Chairman Board of County Commissioners,
Benewah County, Idaho.

LATAH COUNTY,

Moscow, Idaho, December 7, 1931.

Whereas it has been brought to our attention that the bill known as H. R. No. 414 has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman French; and

Whereas a study of the proposals in said bill has been made; and

Whereas it will be to the best interest of the Nation, the State, and the county, and would foster the prosperity of all individuals therein, to assure in every possible way that such lands as described in the bill as are chiefly valuable for forest purposes be protected from fire and kept at a maximum possible protectivity, through other means;

Now, therefore, we hereby indorse the proposed legislation as highly desirable and to the best interest of the State of Idaho and of the individual citizens thereof, and pray that you will see fit to foster this bill, and make every effort toward its enactment.

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House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR MR. FRENCH: The Wallace Board of Trade have given considerable study to House bill 414, proposed by you to authorize the additions of certain areas to the Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe National Forests. At our meeting to-day we have unanimously adopted the following resolution:

"Resolved, That House bill 414, introduced by Representative Burton L. French, authorizing the addition of certain areas in Benewah, Kootenai, Latah, and Shoshone Counties to the Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe National Forests, is hereby approved by the Wallace Board of Trade with the proviso that the bill is amended to make certain changes in the boundary of the proposed area which have been agreed upon by representatives of the mining and timber interests and officials of the State of Idaho and the Forest Service.

"That the secretary of the board is hereby instructed to advise Representative French of this action; also the commissioners of Shoshone, Denewah, Kootenai, and Latah Counties.'

As I understand this change, it simply excludes a small territory along the banks of the Coeur d'Alene River upon which the mining companies have easements for tailings disposal. The change has been agreed upon by the Forest Service and all other interests involved. I presume that the Forest Service will present you with the altered description.

The Shoshone County commissioners and all parties interviewed by our committee are in favor of this proposal and indorse it without question.

We are advising the commissioners of each county concerned of our action, and will expect the indorsement of the Shoshone County commissioners to reach you at an early date, and we will be pleased to learn the success of this measure. Very truly yours,

WALLACE BOARD OF TRADE, By R. M. CUMMINS, Secretary.

IDAHO STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
Lewiston, Idaho, January, 1932.

ADDITIONS TO NATIONAL FORESTS

Whereas there is before the present session of Congress legislation providing for certain additions to the Coeur d'Alene, St. Joe, Idaho, and Boise National Forests, in the State of Idaho; and

Whereas such additions have been approved by local communities: Now therefore be it

Resolved, That we, the Idaho State Chamber of Commerce, in convention assembled, do indorse such legislation and do urge upon our congressional delegation such action as will assure early and favorable action upon such proposed additions.

Hon. BURTON L. FRENCH,

Washington, D. C.

ST. MARIES Chamber of COMMERCE,
St. Maries, Idaho, December 18, 1931.

DEAR Mr. FRENCH: Following is a copy of a resolution passed by our chamber of commerce, confirmation of which was wired you yesterday.

"Whereas it has been brought to our attention that the bill known as H. R. 414 has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman French; and

"Whereas a study of the proposals in said bill has been made; and

"Whereas it will be to the best interest of the Nation, the State, and county, and would foster the prosperity of all individuals therein, to assure in every possible way that such lands as described in the bill as are chiefly valuable for forest purposes be protected from fire and kept at a maximum possible protectivity, through other means;

Now, therefore, we hereby indorse the proposed legislation as highly desirable and to the best interest of the State of Idaho and of the individual citizens thereof, and pray that you will see fit to foster this bill, and make every effort towards its enactment."

We believe that generally people in Benewah County are very much in favor of this bill, and in as much as the bill has been approved by the Forestry Department, we are particularly anxious that it pass.

Assuring you of our appreciation of your interest in this matter, we are,

Yours truly,

Hon. BURTON L. FRENCH,

I. F. SHEFLER, Secretary Chamber of Commerce.

NORTH IDAHO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
St. Maries, Idaho, December 9, 1931.

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

DEAR MR. FRENCH: Please find attached a copy of a resolution passed by the North Idaho Chamber of Commerce, at its regular annual meeting held in Coeur d'Alene on November 13 and 14 last.

We earnestly urge upon you the importance of the matter treated in this resolution and express the hope that you will do what you can to promote legislation along the desired line.

Yours truly,

E. W. TRUEMAN, Secretary.

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