174 FOREST REGULATION 



5. In actual location of roads on a forest property topography 

 rules ; the loaded wagon or sleigh should not go uphill. Valley and 

 ridge in the mountains, with parallels to cut large slopes, form the 

 chief features here ; while in level and rolling country great choice 

 of location exists, and a net work of roads may be suited entirely 

 to the needs of the forest. 



The grade is important, the worst piece in the road is a measure 

 of its usefulness. Practicability of using the road for as many days 

 each year as possible, and ease of maintenance are matters for the 

 general plan to consider. 



6. Here also should be mentioned the matter of co-operation 

 between the owner of the forest and local authorities, neighboring 

 owners of forest lands, mining companies and other people interested 

 in the highways of the district. The possibility of creating favorable 

 public sentiment by means of road-construction is worthy of con- 

 sideration and liberal treatment. 



b. Trails are an improvement required primarily in mountain 

 countries where they replace the road for travel on foot and horse. 

 But with forest division, trails along division lines of lots and sub- 

 lots, etc., the foot-path or trail is likely to gain importance even in 

 level country. In the case of trails as with roads the preparation of 

 a general plan based on maps deserves preference over the build-as- 

 you-need, haphazard way of developing the system. 



As stated before many trails may as well be located on regular 

 wagon road grade and bridge over to the more satisfactory and 

 permanent form of communication. 



c. The Telephone in forestry is an innovation; it is just be- 

 ginning to find its way into the European forest and is much less 

 used there than in the United States. It is helpful in all kinds of 

 work, but is especially needed in fire protection. Like trail and 

 road it costs considerable money to build and costs every year for 

 maintenance through decay of poles, breakage of wire, etc. Being 

 most needed in protection, it is this line of work which dominates 

 the planning of a satisfactory system of lines, and urges their con- 

 struction, almost regardless of the general development or condition 

 of the property. As with trails and roads, there should be a general 

 plan, in which connection of different parts of the forest (ranger 

 stations) with each other and with headquarters are most important. 



