A NATIONAL PLAN FOE AMERICAN FORESTRY 1413 



should govern Federal participation in this. work will be found in the 

 section of this report entitled " Federal Aid to States and Private 

 Owners." 



ON NATIONAL FORESTS 



The increases needed per acre on the national forests, as given in 

 table 11, represent an objective to be attained not later than the end 

 of the next 10-year period. To this end the following program is 

 offered : 



1. Roads and trails annual program for 10-year period (this 



includes maintenance) $3, 700, 000 



2. Other improvements such as telephone lines, lookout struc- 



tures, etc., annual program for 5 years, including mainte- 

 nance and replacement 780, 000 



3. Increased man power starting with an addition of $80,000 



to present appropriation during the fiscal year 1934 and 

 increasing to $625,000 at the end of the 8-year period when 

 the road and trail program approaches completion and the 

 construction crews will not be available for fire control 

 work 80,000-625,000 



These items cover the investment that should be made for the 

 required transportation system, the physical plant, the essential 

 equipment, and additional man power. In comparing the proposed 

 expenditures for roads, trails, and other improvements with the costs 

 per acre given in table 11 it is necessary to remember that this class 

 of expenditures represents a capital Investment from^ which the 

 annual cost is obtained by amortization. For example, it is estimated 

 that protection roads will last, on the average, 40 years, and the 

 construction cost is therefore charged off over a 40-year period. 



The need for increased man power will become acute as the road 

 and trail and improvement jobs near completion and this source of 

 labor is moved out of the country, and this explains the considerable 

 annual increases in present funds appropriated for fire control up to 

 a total increase of $625,000 as the road program approaches comple- 

 tion. To balance this expenditure, however, an annual saving of 

 some $600,000 in fire-fighting costs may be expected as the system 

 reaches completion. 



IN NATIONAL PARKS AND NATIONAL MONUMENTS 



According to information supplied for this report by the National 

 Park Service there are 8,426,046 acres in national parks and monu- 

 ments, including parks and monuments in Alaska and Hawaii. 

 Much of this area is susceptible to damage from forest fires. The 

 average annual expenditure for fire suppression for the 6 fiscal years 

 1927 to 1932, inclusive, was $95,324.85, and the average area burned 

 annually during the last 5 calendar years, 1927-31, was 19,072 acres. 



The Park Service estimates that the following additional capital 

 investment in fire protection improvements is needed, the investment 

 to be made over a 5-year period : 



Lookout houses and towers $48, 600 



Telephone lines 42, 327 



Tool kiosks and tool houses 18, 550 



Guard cabins and barns 18, 925 



Roads 65,000 



Trails 284, 772 



Water development 3, 950 



Grand total for 5-year period.. --- 482, 124 



