REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 33 



not under cooperative protection. About one-half the forest lands 

 of the country outside the national forests are now receiving some 

 form of systematic fire protection, but 166,000,000 acres of forest 

 lands are still wholly unprotected from fire and the annual loss in 

 such regions is appalling. We can not as a people rest content with 

 such a showing. Such wholly unnecessary destruction must be 

 stopped. 



FEDERAIi-AID ROAD COIVSTRTJCTION. 



Ten thousand two hundred and forty-seven miles of road projects 

 were brought to completion during the year through Federal aid 

 to the States. Prior to the fiscal year 1922, 7,469 miles had been com- 

 pleted. This brings the total completed up to the end of the fiscal 

 year to 17,716 miles. The mileage completed during the year under 

 the Federal-aid system is classified as follows: 



Miles. 



Graded and drained 2, 060 



Sand-clay 1, 210 



Gravel 3, 842 



Waterbound macadam 265 



Bituminous macadam 370 



Bituminous concrete 400 



~ Concrete 1, 915 



Brick 165 



Bridges 20 



Total 10, 247 



At the close of the year the projects under construction, amounting 

 to approximately 14,500 miles, were estimated to be about 56 per cent 

 complete. 



The total apportionment of Federal funds to the States, up to and 

 including the fiscal year 1922, amount to $339,875,000. Of this, 

 $297,018,923 had been set aside for definite projects, many of which 

 had been completed prior to the close of the year, others placed under 

 construction, and still others which were more recently approved 

 were awaiting construction. The amount of Federal aid paid or 

 due on completed projects up to the end of the year was $132,079,204. 

 The total cost of these projects, more than 50 per cent of which has 

 been paid by the States, was $309,466,524. 



On projects under construction at the end of the year Federal aid 

 has been allotted to the amount of $109,989,757. The estimated total 

 cost of these projects is $254,269,813. The total amount of Federal 



