NOTES AND COMMENTS 241 



existing elements of danger. Based on the principle that responsi- 

 biHty exists aside from intent, the decision is a far-reaching and 

 sweeping victory in the work of forest fire control. 



Secretary Houston has just announced the plan to be pursued in 

 spending the $10,000,000 appropriated by the Federal aid road act 

 for the construction and maintenance of roads and trails within or 

 partly within National Forests, and has tentatively allotted among 

 the various National Forest States the million dollars which is ex- 

 pendable this fiscal year. The tentative allotments to the principal 

 National Forest States are as follows: Alaska, $46,280; Arizona, 

 $59,950; Arkansas, $11,294; California, $140,763; Colorado, $62,335; 

 Idaho, $108,010; Montana, $89,901; Nevada, $19,195; New Mexico, 

 $42,622; Oregon, $127,794; South Dakota, $8,115; Utah, $40,982; 

 Washington, $91,739 ; Wyoming, $40,566. 



The method followed in apportioning the money was explained 

 by Secretary Houston as follows : Ten per cent of the amount avail- 

 able each year will be withheld as a contingent fund. One half of the 

 remainder will be allotted to the States in amounts which will be 

 based on the area of National Forest lands in each State. The other 

 half will be apportioned on a basis of estimated value of timber and 

 forage resources which the forest contains. Amounts apportioned 

 unexpended within three years, and any balance of the contingent 

 fund which remains unapportioned at the end of each year, will be 

 reapportioned on the same basis as the original allotments. 



The eighth aniuial meeting of the Commission of Conservation 

 of Canada met at Ottawa on January 16 and 17. The acting chair- 

 man, Senator Edwards, made a short opening address, in which he 

 took the position that all resources of Canada, her timber wealth 

 included, were nuich overrated. The address of the permanent chair- 

 man. Sir Clifford Si f ton, read in his absence, was a statesmanlike 

 presentation of the situation in Canada and review of the .work of 

 the commission. Only two papers on forestry matters by outsiders 

 v.-ere presented, namely, a description of the cooperative fire protec- 

 tion organized in Quebec, by H. Sorgius, and a description of the 

 forest survey and land classification undertaken by New Brunswick, 

 presented by P. Z. Caverhill. The report of the committee on forests 

 was summarized by Clyde Leavitt, the forester of the commission. 



