A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 



45 



terially increased. Wholly unprotected areas, mostly in the South, 

 are chiefly responsible for this high ratio, since on protected private 

 and State forests for the entire country the ratio is 1.70 to 1. 



Based upon these considerations, it is estimated that the ultimate 

 cost of adequate fire protection on areas outside of the existing 

 national forests will be nearly $20,000,000. 



On the existing national forests $10,649,000 will be needed, of which 

 $4,279,000 is current expenditures and the remainder capital invest- 

 ment. 



AREA NOW PROTECTED 



AREA NEEDING PROTECTION 



JOO 



200 300 



MILLION ACRES 



400 



500 



I93E PROTECTION COST 



COST OF PROPOSED PROTECTION PROGRAM 



10 



15 20 



MILLION DOLLARS 



25 



30 



35 



FIGURE 20. A desirable standard of fire protection will require the enlargement of the area now under 

 protection by 60 percent and the increase of 1932 expenditures by 120 percent. 



An adequate program will also require the following increases : 



The total annual price which the American people will have to pay 

 to control the scourge of forest fire is therefore about $32,000,000 as 

 against 1932 expenditures of $14,475,000. 



The area and financial aspects of the proposed program are also 

 shown in figure 20. 



