184 



ANNUAL EEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



OTHER SPECIAL USES. 



Permits for the occupancy of National Forest lands for various 

 uses, other than water power, issued during the year numbered 

 6,025, of which 3,560 were charge and 2,465 free. At the close of the 

 vear a total of 9,846 charge permits and 11,733 free permits were in 

 effect. The receipts from this source rose from $83,900 to $107,530.85, 

 a growth of 28 per cent in a single year. This is largely attributable 

 to the provisions of the act of March 4, 1915, enabling the Secretary 

 of Agriculture to issue permits for the use and occupancy of not to 

 exceed 5 acres of National Forest land to any one person or corpora- 

 tion for a period not exceeding 30 years. Already it has been 

 demonstrated that this legislation was just what was needed, and as 

 a result of it the National Forests are performing a larger public 

 service. 



The use of some of the National Forests for recreation purposes 

 is growing to such importance as to be one of the major activities. 

 Upon the Angeles National Forest permits for 814 residences, 26 

 hotels, and 28 summer resorts W'cre in force at the end of the fiscal 

 year. It is believed that the use of the National Forests along this 

 line, as shown by the foregoing figures, represents only a promising 

 beginning of the development which is to follow. 



ROADS, TRAILS, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. 



In addition to the $400,000 provided by the agricultural appropria- 

 tion act for the construction and maintenance of permanent improve- 

 ments, $429,305.77 was available for roads and trails within the 

 Forest boundaries from the 10 per cent fund derived from receipts. 

 This comprised $278,216.56 derived from the 1916 receipts and an 

 unexpended balance from previous years of $151,089.21. As in pre- 

 vious years, cooperative projects were carried on with funds con- 

 tributed by the Forest Service and by the local communities. 



The following tabulation shows the number of miles of public 

 roads constructed up to December 31, 1916, from the 10 per cent 

 appropriation and other funds. 



Table 12. — Road construction and improvement *- 



funds, by States. 



-10 per cent and cooperative 



^ Does not include bridge or maintenance work. 



