OCR Text |
Show 217 an indication of the scope of the intent to aid settlement ap- pears in the following provision: 397 For the purposes of assisting in the permanent set- tlement of farm families, protecting project land, facili- tating project development, and preventing speculation in project lands, the Secretary is authorized to admin- ister public lands of the United States in the project area and lands acquired under this section; to sell, ex- change, or lease such lands; to establish town sites on such lands; to dedicate portions of such lands for pub- lic purposes in keeping with sound project development; to acquire in the name of the United States, at prices satisfactory to him, such lands or interest in lands, within or adjacent to the project area, as he deems ap- propriate for the protection, development, or improve- ment of the project; to accept donations of real and personal property for the purposes of this Act; and to disseminate information by appropriate means and methods. Any moneys realized on account of dona- tions for purposes of this Act shall be covered into the Treasury as trust funds. The plan of development contemplates inclusion within the project of public lands and the acquisition and sale of pri- vately owned lands, all to conform to appropriate farm units.398 In the investigations initiated by the Bureau in 1939 to plan for settlement and development of the project area, more than 40 agencies participated, including federal, state, and local gov- ernments, educational institutions, private industries, and local civic organizations.889 That investigation anticipated that the area will support from 350,000 to 400,000 people on farms and related urban settlements.400 Acreage Limitations and Antispeculation Provisions.-The 1901 presidential message to Congress, which enunciated prin- m § 4(a), 57 Stat. 18, see 16 U. S. O. 835c(a). 898 §§ 2-4, 57 Stat. 14-18, see 16 U. S. O. 835a-835c(b). •"Reclamation Handbook, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Rec- lamation, p. 47 (1942). 400 Ibid. |