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Show Introduction JOSEPH C. O'MAHONEY, Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, United States Senate. There is here presented a compilation of essential facts intimately associated with human existence upon the earth. This has been prepared by Dr. J. R. Mahoney of the Legislative Reference Service of the Library of Congress who was assigned for this purpose to the congressional committees having jurisdiction of the Federal public lands and the waters thereon. It contains an admirable description of the physical problems of land and water to which man must adjust himself. The life of nations as well as of peoples depends upon the utilization of natural resources. These fall into two categories: those which are exhaustible as in the case of minerals, and those which are renewable as in the case of soil, water, and organic life. It becomes a legislative problem of prime importance to take such steps as may be necessary properly to conserve and utilize these resources. No more important task confronts the Congress than to take those legistlative steps which are necessary if water and soil as well as minerals are to be utilized in such fashion as to support an expanding economy. The data herein presented form a factual basis for the understanding of these problems. It is correct to conclude that the problems of water supply and stream pollution are closely interrelated, physically and economically. They are regional in character and should be viewed in that light. Secondary to municipal, industrial, and agricul- tural needs are uses for hydro power and navigation. A proper understanding of the problems of life upon the planet requires not only complete knowledge of water supply but also of the interrelation of that supply and feasible land utilization. This relationship is also described in Dr. Mahoney's monograph. The geologist tells us the history of the formation of the land masses upon which the human family must live. It is our task, as legislators, to become familiar with all the problems of land use. The best use of each kind of soil and of the land surface can be discovered only when they are measured and charted, and full knowledge of their nature and constituency is available in detail. The survey and mapping of lands, including the continental shelves extending into the oceans, must necessarily be sufficiently detailed to show the elevation, the thicknesses, and the physical features and mineral content of the geological formations comprising the lithosphere. These data will permit their classification for their best use and the evaluation of the minerals and other materials they contain. Thus, the program for mapping, the need for which is explained herein, will result in a three dimensional description of that portion of the earth's crust which is of most immediate concern for our economic progress and national security. The Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the Senate and the Public Lands Committee of the House now have the opportunity of examining into the present status of investigations and the basic scientific data available with respect to both water and land. The results of expert studies in the past are here summarized for ready reference by Members of the Congress and others interested in learning more about the most efficient utilization of our land and water resources. The study, I am sure, will be invaluable to the members of the two committees and it is certain to point out to us many of the legislative roads we must travel if we desire to establish a sound, scientific, and practical basis for future development of the growing population of the United States. I have watched with interest the preparation of Dr. Mahoney's work. Its records should be accumulated and widely distributed. |