INTRODUCTION xlv 



bridges, 222 miles of fences, 545 dwellings, barns, 

 and other structures, and many other improve- 

 ments. Up to date there have been constructed 

 over 3,000 miles of roads, over 25,000 miles of trails, 

 about 23,000 miles of telephone lines, 860 miles of 

 firebreaks, about 360 forest fire lookout cabins and 

 towers, and many other improvements. Their to- 

 tal value is estimated at $7,000,000. And these 

 vast improvements are but a small percentage of 

 the improvements which will be necessary to be 

 able to put these Forests to their highest use. 



Not only must enormous sums be spent for im- 

 provements. The huge sums which are spent for 

 the protection of the great resources bring no tangi- 

 ble return in dollars and cents ; yet the fire protec- 

 tion system prevents the destruction of millions of 

 dollars' worth of timber every year. Then again, 

 when government timber lands are cut over, only 

 the mature trees are taken; the smaller trees, al- 

 though, they have a commercial value, are left on 

 the ground to mature because they will have a still 

 greater value in from forty to fifty years. This is 

 merely foregoing a small present revenue for a 

 larger future one. Also many National Forests 

 have on them large areas of steep mountain slopes 



