62 STAT.] 80TH CONG. , 2D SESS.-CH. 543 -JUNE 19, 1948 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 $10,000, with the exception that any building erected, purchased, or acquired, the cost of which was $10,000 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; 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: Pro- tided, That not to exceed $50,000 of the appropriation for "National forest protection and management", and not to exceed $50,000 of the appropriation for "Forest fire cooperation" may be transferred to the appropriation "Printing and binding, Department of Agriculture", for forest fire prevention posters and related printed material, as follows: General administrative expenses: For general administration, including the salary of the Chief Forester at $10,000 per annum, and for expenses of the National Forest Reservation Commission as authorized by section 14 of the Act of March 1, 1911 (16 U. S. C . 514), $650,000. 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 nursery stock by purchase, production, or otherwise, seeding and tree planting and the care of plantations and young growth; the operation and maintenance of aircraft and the purchase of not to exceed four; the maintenance of roads and trails and the construction and main- tenance 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 administration, except that where, in the opinion of the Secretary, direct purchases will be more economical than construction, improve- ments may be purchased; the construction (not to exceed $10,000 for any one structure), equipment, and maintenance of sanitary and recreational facilities; 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 development and application of plans for their effective management, sale, and use; examination, classification, surveying, and appraisal of land incident to effecting exchanges authorized by law and of lands within the boundaries of the national forests that may be opened to homestead settlement and entry under the Act of June 11, 1906, and the Act of August 10, 1912 (16 U. S . C . 506-509), as provided by the Act of March 4, 1913 (16 U. S . C . 512); investiga- tion and establishment of water rights, including the purchase thereof or of lands or interests in lands or rights-of-way for use and protec- tion of water rights necessary or beneficial in connection with the administration and public use of the national forests; and all expenses necessary for the use, maintenance, improvement, protection, and general administration of the national forests, $25,204,175, of which not to exceed $25,000 shall be available for the purchase of one nursery site. 521 Protection, etc., of national forests. Care of fish and game. Transfer of funds. Infra; post, p . 522. Ante, p. 610 . 36 Stat. 963. Supra. Direct purchawe. Homestead lands. 34 Stat. 233; 37 Btat. 287, 842.
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