REPORT OF THE FOKESTER. 177 



ROADS, TRAILS, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. 



Two appropriations are available for the construction and mainte- 

 nance of permanent improvements. The first amounts to $400,000 

 carried in the regular appropriation bill, which is designed primarily 

 for the construction and maintenance of improvements needed in the 



Erotection and administration of the Forests. In addition, Congress 

 as appropriated 10 per cent of the receipts from the National Forests 

 for the construction of roads and trails, with the purpose primarily of 

 aiding in the general development of the local communities. This 

 amounted for the fiscal year 1916 to $278,216.56, and was materially 

 increased through cooperative funds from the local communities. 

 Most of the road building in the Forests has been from the second item, 

 while the regular appropriation of $400,000 has been used for the con- 

 struction of trails, telephone lines, lookout structures, and other miscel- 

 laneous improvements. In addition to the work of maintenance of 

 improvements already built, there have been constructed during the 

 past year 227 miles of new roads, 1,975 miles of trails, 2,124 miles of 

 telephone lines, 89 miles of fire lines, 81 lookout structures, 40 bridges, 

 222 miles of fences, 545 dwellings, barns, and other structures, 17 

 corrals, and 202 water improvements. Included in the above figures 

 are 116 miles of road, 203 miles of trails, 74 miles of telephone Tines, 

 19 miles of fire lines, 42 miles of fences, 14 bridges, 1 lookout structure, 

 and 12 water improvements built with funds, materials, and labor 

 contributed cooperatively by the Forest Service and communities 

 associations, and individuals. 



The estimated value of all improvements on the National Forests 

 at the close of the year, including improvements paid for from the 

 annual appropriations for this specific purpose, the 10 per cent of the 

 National Forest receipts contributed for building roads and trails for 

 the benefit of the public, and cooperative contributions, was $6,318,- 

 143. Works of communication and protection account for $4,461,510, 

 or 71 per cent of this amount. The total of roads within the Forests 

 which have been constructed or improved by the Forest Service is 

 now 2,795 miles, and of trails 24,225 miles. 



The recent appropriation of $10,000,000 for the construction of 

 National Forest roads will enable roads to be built on a very much 

 larger scale than hitherto has been possible, and will result in the 

 rapid opening of forest regions at present practically inaccessible. 



SCHOOL, ROAD, AND TRAIL MONEY FOR STATES FROM RECEIPTS FUND. 



Under existing law, besides the 10 per cent of the receipts which is 

 made available for expenditure by the Secretary of Agriculture in 

 building roads and trails for the benefit of the public, another 25 per 

 cent of the receipts is paid to the States by the Federal Government 

 for the benefit of the county schools and roads. The amounts avail- 

 able under both the 10 per cent and the 25 per cent clauses of the law 

 during the fiscal year 1916 and the amounts that will be available 

 during the current year from the receipts of that fiscal year are shown 

 in Table 12. 



