78 THE NATIONAL FOREST MANUAL. 



Telephone Plans. 



The plan for a telephone system will include a map and a report. The map 

 Will show existing Forest Service and private lines and their character, and 

 the location of exchanges and instruments, also the location and character of 

 all new construction which will be necessary to meet the needs of Service busi- 

 ness during the next five years. In addition, the map should show high-power 

 electric transmission lines, roads, trails, ranger stations, lookouts, and all 

 other points which may influence the establishment of the system. 



The report will discuss, in the order of their importance, the proposed new 

 lines, their need, location, character, and cost. The telephone systems should be 

 grouped by natural divisions and each division designated by its two terminals. 

 A branch line should be designated by its terminal and the divisions of which 

 it is a branch. 



The District Forester will prepare, from the information furnished by the 

 supervisors, a map of the entire district, showing the existing and proposed 

 lines; this will insure coordination of plans between the various Forests and 

 With the private systems. He will then issue instructions covering the general 

 plan of the telephone system for each Forest. 



RANGE IMPROVEMENT. 



For the complete and most economical use of the forage on the Forests, water 

 may have to be developed and fences, corrals, bridges, trails, and other works 

 constructed. Since such works directly benefit the stockmen, the Forest Service 

 will allot funds for their construction only in exceptional cases when the benefit 

 to the Forest plainly warrants the expenditure. The expenditure of funds 

 for these purposes can sometimes be made more effective if the assistance and 

 cooperation of interested stockmen can be secured. 



The location and character of works needed for this purpose should be shown, 

 so far as possible on the improvement map, supplemented by a report describ- 

 ing the conditions which indicate, the definability of their construction, and the 

 specific nature of the works proposed, and their cost. 



TIMBER SALE IMPROVEMENTS. 



Generally, timber operations on the National Forests are so extensive that 

 the purchaser can be expected to construct all the works necessary for the 

 removal of the timber, and the usual policy of the Service will be to offer no 

 assistance in the actual construction of such works. If, however, bodies of 

 timber can be made accessible to small operators and the sale of timber made 

 certain by the construction of roads, chutes, or flumes, or by clearing streams 

 for driving, these, works may be undertaken by the Service, and the supervisor 

 should include the necessary recommendations, with a description and estimate, 

 in his improvement plans. 



PROTECTIVE IMPROVEMENTS. 



Firebreaks, lookout stations, and other works required to protect the Forests 

 from fire are dealt with in the Forest Fire Potection Plan. In the improve- 

 ment report the supervisor should include a summary of the works of this 

 character, and give a very brief description and estimate of their cost. 



Hanger Stations. 



Buildings may be constructed for the field force to afford necessary shelter 

 and to furnish an office for the efficient transaction of business. Land may 

 be cultivated for the economical production of forage crops, and fences built 

 to insure needed pasturage for live stock used by Forest officers in their work. 

 The buildings may be substantial houses to be used throughout the year, or 

 they may be merely such structures as will afford the necessary shelter and 

 domestic conveniences for officers during summer. These summer camps should 

 be constructed where needed for the use of patrolmen, officers in charge of 

 timber sales, or at such points as will serve the needs of officers traveling 

 through the Forest. 



Cost. 



Under the provisions of the appropriation act of March 4/1911 (36 Stat. 

 1246), the cost of any building shall not exceed $650. It is expected, however, 

 that this limit will not be reached, except possibly in the case of rangers' head- 

 quarters. Summer quarters ordinarily should not cost more than $150. 



