The General Land Exchange Act of 1922 (16 U.S.C. 485, 486) was signed into law by President of the United States Warren G. Harding on March 20, 1922[1] This act allowed the U.S. Forest Service to consolidate its holdings in national forests where a large percentage of private lands were intermingled with forest lands. It made possible the exchange of inholdings within national forests for private lands of equal value and within the same state.[2]
This act also made for better management and administration in accordance with future planning initiatives because the process of a mutually desirable exchange was greatly simplified by this legislation to a matter of just signing papers.
Chief Forester William B. Greeley predicted in 1922 that "this law would probably be regarded as one of the half-dozen most important laws affecting the National Forests."[3]
Notes
References
- Godfrey, Anthony The Ever-Changing View-A History of the National Forests in California USDA Forest Service Publishers, 2005
- Steen, Harold K. The United States Forest Service A History University of Washington Press, 1976