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Show 371 The 1936 legislation provides primarily for a program based on grants-in-aid to those states enacting legislation to effec- tuate the foregoing provisions.107 Pending enactment of such state legislation, a provision expressly limited as to time was made for direct conditional cash payments to cooperating land- owners, based on their agreement to carry out soil-conserving practices.108 Only some of the states having enacted enabling legislation with respect to the grants-in-aid program, the direct-aid program is still in effect on the basis of periodic authorizations by Congress which have extended its time limitation.109 The amount of direct payments under this program is measured by, among other things, use of land for "soil restora- tion, soil conservation, or the prevention of erosion," and also for "changes in the use" of the land.110 Such measures are re- quired by statute to be construed, in arid and semiarid sections:1U to cover water conservation and the beneficial use of water on individual farms, including measures to pre- vent run-off, the building of check dams and ponds, and providing facilities for applying water to the land. Two other aspects of the 1936 legislation merit attention. First, the Secretary is authorized to conduct surveys, investi- gations, and research relating to conditions and factors affect- ing, and the methods of accomplishing, the policy and purposes set out above.112 The second concerns funds. The Act carries an authorization for an annual appropriation of $500,000,000.113 In recent years, Congress has appropriated amounts up to $300,000,000 annually.114 Also, the Act specifies a limitation 107 § 7(e), 49 Stat 1148, as amended, 16 U. S. C. 590g(c). 108 § 8,49 Stat. 1149, as amended, 16 U. S. C. 590h. ** See, e. g., Act of July 25, 1946, 60 Stat. 663, and see 16 U. S. O. 590h note following. 110 § 8(b), 49 Stat. 1149, as amended, 16 U. S. C. 590h (b). ulId. 112 § 9, 49 Stat. 1150, as amended, 16 U. S. G. 590i. 1M § 15, 49 Stat. 1151, as amended, 16 U. S. C. 590o. 114 See, e. g., Act of June 29, 1949, 63 Stat. 324, -; Act of September 6, 1950, 64 Stat. 595, -. |