204 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



NATIONAL FOREST RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES. 



The income-producing business on the national forests showed re- 

 markable stability in view of the depressed or uncertain conditions 

 in the timber and live-stock industries of the West, which afford the 

 principal markets for national forest products. The abnormally low 

 output of western sawmills which caused a decrease in receipts from 

 timber sales for the preceding year continued until the last quarter of 

 the fiscal year 1922; but for that quarter they exceeded $620,000 

 and for the entire year they totaled $1,780,347.24 and were almost 

 identical with those of 1921. The receipts for the last (|uarter were 

 far in excess of those for any preceding (juarter in the administration 

 of the national forests except one in 1920, and foreshadow a marked 

 increase in the cut during the ensuing months. 



Approximately 22 perx-ent of the cattle and 53 per cent of the sheep 

 in the 11 Western States are grazed upon national forest ranges during 

 part or all of the year. The grazing business of the forests conse- 

 quently reflects closely the conditions in the live-stock industry of 

 the West, which has been passing through one of the most severe 

 financial depressions of its history. Many permittees have been 

 forced to sacrifice portions of their breeding herds, and reductions on 

 a few allotments were unavoidable to protect the range from deterio- 

 ration. In consecjuence, the total number of stock grazed was about 

 10 per cent less than in the preceding year. The fees for this use of 

 the national forest ranges will total, according to the best estimate 

 now possible, $2,166,347, as against $2,415,618 for 1921. 



The showing of receipts from grazing has been complicated (1) 

 by legislation authorizing the postponement of payments for grazing 

 permits issued during the fiscal year 1921, and (2) by the necessity, 

 in view of the depression in the live-stock industry, of authorizing 

 the payment of fees normally due during the fiscal year 1922 in two 

 installments, the second of which will become payable in December of 

 this year. The cash receipts during the fiscal year amounted to 

 $2,933,930.07, but of this amount $1,948,925.09 represents deferred 

 payments or collections for forage used during the preceding fiscal 

 year. On July 1, 1922, there remained unpaid $77,997.40 in grazing 

 fees due for the season of 1921 and approximately $100,000 due on 

 the first installment for the season of 1922. 



The actual receipts from all sources during the past year totaled 

 $5,068,527.42. Grouping all minor uses and settlements under the 

 major resources from which this income was derived, it may be 

 distributed as follows: 



From the use of timber $1, 828, 191. 64 



From the use of forage 2, 962, 971. 60 



From the use of land, including water-power sites 277, 364. 18 



Total 5, 068, 527. 42 



Disregarding dates of payment and assuming that all outstanding 

 obligations will be met by forest users, the income-producing busi- 

 ness of the national forests aggregated $4,271,903, as compared with 

 $4,468,940 during the fiscal year 1921. 



The expenditures of the Forest Service during the fiscal year are" 

 shown in the following table by appropriation items. These do not 

 include expenditures from the appropriations for forest roads, the 



