REVIEWS 577 



million remaining to be done, when comparative stability in the forest 

 area will be attained. 



The need of making the National Forests more accessible has been 

 handsomely acknowledged by the Federal Aid Road Act, which appro- 

 priated lo million dollars for the building of trails and roads, one mil- 

 lion dollars available yearly. Besides, lo per cent of the receipts are 

 devoted to the purpose, so that for 191 8 $1,240,000 were available, 

 which probably on account of labor difficulties it may not be possible 

 all to use. So far the Service has constructed 2,922 miles of road, 

 25.193 miles of trails, 23.118 miles of telephone lines, and has spent 

 altogether in improvement nearly seven million dollars. Further im- 

 provements outside the National Forests are provided in the States in 

 which the forests are situated by the practice of turning over to them 

 for county roads and schools 25 per cent of the forest income, which 

 in 19 1 7 amounted to over $910,000. Still further benefits of co-opera- 

 tion between the Federal and State governments are administered by 

 the Service in the system of forest-fire protection, under the Weeks' 

 law, toward which $100,000 in State aid are appropriated. 



The usual statistics regarding forest fires are given. The year 1916 

 was favorable, but 19 17 was a bad one after June and "put the Na- 

 tional Forest protective system to the severest test which it has experi- 

 enced since the great fires of 1910," occasioning an emergency expendi- 

 ture of over $950,000. The losses were nevertheless comparatively 

 small. 



Reforestation, chiefly of old burns, was continued at a reduced rate 

 and increased cost, some 7,680 acres being reforested, 190 of which by 

 seeding. The 18 National Forest nurseries are credited with contain- 

 ing 36.5 million plants, chiefly for own use, the free distribution to 

 settlers seemingly being confined to Nebraska, with insignificant 

 amounts. 



Estimating of timber is mainly done as a basis for sale purposes. 

 Up to the year of re|)ort some 21 million acres had been estimated and 

 mapped by what is called intensive methods and 48 million extensively. 



Range managemetU comes in for considerable discussion, and the 

 advantages of the formation and co-operation of live-stock associa- 

 tions is particularly accentuated. Game preservation, which is in close 

 relation with the range, in co-operation with State authorities is 

 fa\ored. Some 32 new game preserves were established in National 

 Forests. 



Water-power de\eIopment in forests a decision in the v^n])rcme Court 

 has made certain to lie with the Forest Service. 



