REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 45 



at the rate of $100,000,000 a year for a period of five years, begin- 

 ning with July 1, 1921. The principal modifications in mind relate to 

 the problem confronting the Western States in highway work because 

 of the existence in many of them of large areas of public lands, 

 and to the maintenance of Federal aid roads by the State high- 

 way agencies rather than by the counties. The Association of 

 State Highway Officials, at its meeting in December, 1919, unani- 

 mously approved the continuance of the present plan of Federal 

 participation in road building with these and other modifications. 



The fact that the present appropriation may not be entirely ex- 

 pended by June 30, 1921, does not lessen the necessity of imme- 

 diate action. Both the Federal and State highway departments 

 should know, as promptly as possible, the program for the next five 

 years, in order that the work may be adequately planned and the 

 engineering and administrative details carefully executed. Forty of 

 the State legislatures will be in session this winter, when it will be 

 necessary for them to make the requisite provision for meeting future 

 Federal apportionments. From every standpoint, therefore, it is 

 essential that legislation for the continuance of the program now 

 under way be promptly enacted. 



NATIONAL FOREST ROADS. 



Provision should be made also for the continued building, on an 

 adequate scale, of roads within or adjacent to the national forests. 

 The forest road systems are very closely related to those of the 

 States, and the major forest projects form important links in essen- 

 tial State and interstate highways. There are approximately 15,000 

 miles of roads within the forests which connect with State and 

 county highway systems. The building of forest roads, therefore,^ 

 is an important part of the general road development plan of the 

 West, both within and without the forest areas. In addition, the 

 transportation of forest products, the protection and administration 

 of the forests themselves, and their utilization for recreational pur- 

 poses are all dependent upon the construction and maintenance of 

 serviceable roads. 



THE FOHESTIIY PROBLEM. 



The time has arrived when increased attention to u sound and 

 comprehensive forestry policy is imperative. Forest depletion has 

 reached a dangerous and critical point. As cutting advances, much 

 of the land which should continue to produce ample quantities of 

 timber for our domestic needs, and also a balance for export, either 

 grows inferior or partial crops, or sinks to a condition of virtual 

 waste. The cause is neglect and should be removed. It can be- 

 removed only by public action. 



