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Show 555 within watersheds of navigable streams/22 Also, the Secretary of Agriculture has power to acquire, by purchase, gift, condem- nation, or otherwise, lands, or rights or interests therein, neces- sary under the soil-conservation program.323 And, in connec- tion with the program for retirement of submarginal land, he has similar authority.324 The Tennessee Valley Authority is authorized to acquire, by purchase or condemnation, lands and property "necessary or convenient in the transaction of its business." ^ Detailed provisions are prescribed for condemnation proceedings fitted to the land-acquisition program incident to TVA's develop- ment of water resources.328 Contract or Force Account.-In general, water-resource activities are prosecuted by contract rather than by force account.327 With respect to the prosecution of navigation and flood-con- trol projects, other than surveys, estimates, and gaugings, the Secretary of the Army is directed to apply appropriated funds in carrying on the work, "by contract or otherwise, as may be most economical and advantageous to the Government."828 He is prohibited from using funds appropriated for navigation improvements to pay for any work done by private contract "if the contract price is more than 25 per centum in excess of the estimated cost of doing the work by Government plant."329 But no corresponding requirement is specified in the case of flood-control projects. Nor do the statutes applicable to the prosecution of flood-control works by the Secretary of Agri- 828 Act of March 1,1911, § 7, 36 Stat. 961, 962, as amended, 16 U. S. O. 517. m Act of April 27,1935, § 1,49 Stat. 163,16 U. S. 0. 590a. 834 Act of July 22,1937, § 32, 50 Stat. 522, 525, as amended, 7 U. S. C. 1011. m Act of May 18,1933, §§ 4 (f), 4 (h), 48 Stat. 58,60, as amended, 16 U. S. C. 831c(f), 831c(h). 826 § 25, 48 Stat. 70,16 U. S. C. 831x. 827 See, e. g., Hearings before a Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, on Interior Department Appropriation Bill for 1949, 80th Cong., 2d sess., pp. 628-632,1300-1307 (1948). 888 See, e. g.t Act of August 11, 1888, § 3, 25 Stat. 400, 423, as amended, 33 U. S. 0.622; Act of March 1,1917, § 3, 39 Stat. 948, 950, 33 U. S. C. 701. 829 Act of March 2, 1919, §8, 40 Stat. 1275, 1290, 33 U. S. C. 624. |