1312 A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 



and is the basis of the production of low-priced beef, mutton, and 

 wool. Present current administration costs are 0.705 cent per acre, 

 spread over the entire national-forest system. An increase of 

 $50,000 is needed annually, making the proposed rate 0.742 cent 

 per acre. This annual increase is particularly needed for additional 

 personnel to perfect and put into operation better range manage- 

 ment plans so as to insure progressive improvement of the resource, 

 solve vexing problems existing on many national-forest units, and 

 secure proper utilization consistent with the safeguarding of other 

 resources. In addition, there is urgent need for capital investment 

 for range improvements, so that present range resources in them- 

 selves can be permanently safeguarded against abuse and that new 

 areas may be developed for extending the grazing business. Capital 

 investment charges in such range improvements will have to be 

 advanced from 0.2 cent to 0.443 cent per acre. Proposed annual 

 expenditures will provide for the following essentials on the basis 

 of a 10-year program: 



1. Range improvements development of water and fences: 

 $150,000 for capital investments and approximately $30,000 for 

 maintenance. 



2. Poisonous plant eradication initial and follow-up work cover- 

 ing 100,000 acres on badly infested valuable range: $50,000 the 

 first year, up to $500,000 in the tenth year. 



3. Rodent control on 5 million acres, where permanent damage 

 will ensue unless action is soon taken initial and follow-up work: 

 $50 ; 000 in the first year, up to $68,000 in the tenth year. 



4. Revegetation of 810,000 acres of depleted ranges, which will 

 require $2,500,000 expenditure in a 20-year program. 



RECREATION 



In other sections of this report the importance of recreation and 

 the necessity for providing increased facilities have been discussed. 

 In every forest region recreation is becoming a pressing problem, 

 and there is every indication that it will as time passes be greatly 

 aggravated and accentuated. Present per-acre costs are 0.178 cent 

 for general administration, 0.090 cent for wild-life management, 

 and 0.077 cent for capital investment for essential improvements 

 (table 1). The proposed expenditures are but slightly increased, 

 involving costs, respectively, of ^0. 184, 0.185, and 0.174 cent per 

 acre. In contrast to other activities, recreational use occurs on 

 practically every national forest. The total increases needed for an 

 indefinite period are: For administration, $100,000 annually; for 

 wild-life management, $153,000 annually. For capital investment, a 

 total of $2,250,000 is needed, available at the rate of $450,000 

 annually for a 5-year period. Estimates for wild-life management 

 presupposes that forest officers will continue to act as agents of the 

 State; but under complete Forest Service management, including 

 intensive control of hunting, the costs would average from 1 to 2 

 cents more per acre. 



LANDS 



This activity involves the tasks that go with the acquisition of 

 lands, surveying boundaries, and the management of all commercial 



