82 THE SCHOOL BOOK OF FORESTRY 



lines. Special trails are built to and in the fire 

 protection areas of remote sections. A network 

 of good roads is constructed in every forest to 

 improve fire fighting activities as well as to afford 

 better means of communication between towns, 

 settlements and farms. The road and trail 

 plan followed in the National Forests is mapped 

 out years in advance. In the more remote sec- 

 tions, trails are first constructed. Later, these 

 trails may be developed into wagon or motor 

 roads. Congress annually appropriates large 

 sums of money for the building of roads in the 

 National Forests. Over 25,000 miles of roads 

 and 35,000 miles of trails have already been con- 

 structed in these forests. 



Communication throughout the National For- 

 ests is had by the use of the telephone and the 

 radio or wireless telephone. Signalling by means 

 of the heliograph is practiced on bright days in 

 regions that have no telephones. Arrangements 

 made with private telephone companies permit 

 the forest officers to use their lines. The efficient 

 communication systems aid in the administration 

 of the forests and speeds the work of gathering 

 fire fighters quickly at the points where smoke 

 is detected. 



