GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AND PROTECTION. 77 



sary road system should be determined, and those roads which, unquestionably 

 will be built should be located immediately and the right of way secured against 

 alienation. 



A system of roads should be planned which will place every portion of the 

 Forest within a distance of at least 7^ miles of a wagon road, and it will be 

 the aim of the Service to complete such a system as soon as practicable. A 

 pack train can then transport supplies from the point to which they are 

 delivered by wagon to any field camp and return in a single day. 



Bridges. 



Bridges other than very simple ones should be planned in detail so that the 

 District Forester can approve their design and method of construction. 



Water Transportation. 



When navigable waterways present means of transportation the improvement 

 plans should include estimates for the construction or purchase of boats, 

 launches, or ferries. 



Speeders. 



When they can be used without too great danger and when the permission 

 of the owners can be obtained the use of speeders, motor cars, and hand cars on 

 railways and logging railroads should be carefully considered, and their utility 

 and cost should be set forth in the improvement report. 



Purchase of Equipment. 



The purchase, rather than the hire, of pack animals, teams, wagons, scrapers, 

 road graders, stump pullers, and other road-building equipment should be con- 

 sidered if it is evident that a very effectual saving can be made. The possibility 

 of using this equipment in fire protection w T ill also influence its purchase. In 

 reporting on the purchase of horses or other live stock, the cost of maintenance, 

 including wintering, should be given particular attention. 



COMMUNICATION. 



Of scarcely less importance than the system of transportation is the system 

 of communication, which includes telephone lines, signal systems, and mail 

 service. 



Signals. 



In the absence of telephone communication a signal system may be devised, 

 though it has been found that they are not satisfactory even under the most 

 favorable conditions; they should, therefore, be considered as a temporary 

 makeshift, to be replaced by telephone communication as soon as practicable. 

 If a supervisor desires to adopt a signal system, he will report to the District 

 Forester, describing in detail the particular system which he wishes to install. 

 If approved, the District Forester will issue definite instructions for its 

 installation. 



Mail Service. 



While the Post Office Department is extending its service just as rapidly 

 as conditions warrant, it may happen that, owing to the rapid development of 

 the National Forests, the Post Office Department is not fully informed of the 

 need for additional service. When the supervisor becomes satisfied that addi- 

 tional service is justified he should lend such assistance as may be proper to 

 residents who may petition the department for increased mail facilities, or he 

 may report the situation to the District Forester. If the District Forester 

 approves, he may prepare a Secretary letter addressed to the Postmaster 

 General describing the situation and requesting additional service. 



Telephones. 



Telephone communication is indispensable to fire protection and to quick 

 and efficient methods of conducting National Forest business. After the trans- 

 portation system has been reasonably developed, telephone communication is 

 of the greater importance and should be given precedence. 



The ultimate telephone system on the Forests will undoubtedly represent a 

 very large investment and the maximum efficiency and service must be aimed 

 at. Full details of construction are given in the circular " Instructions for the 

 Building and Maintenance of Telephone Lines on the National Forests." 



