132 BIENNIAL REPORT OP DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE 



painted, corners reset and marked where necessary. As this forest is 

 included within the Kentenia Cooperative Forest Fire Protective As- 

 sociation, one steel 100-foot fire observation tower was built on it 

 during the past fiscal year. This tower is connected by telephone with 

 nearby fire wardens, also with one of the main Bell Company lines. A 

 trail has been constructed so that tourists and local visitors may have 

 access to the tower and camp grounds surrounding it, at all times. 



As this forest lies adjacent to the Mayo Trail Highway No. 23, in 

 Harlan County, it will become more serviceable to the tourist public 

 when this beautiful highway route receives the traveling public's atten- 

 tion that it deserves. 



Due to the small annual State appropriation, there have not been 

 sufficient funds to date for the Department to develop this Forest so 

 that it could be placed on a revenue-producing basis. 



As the area in which this forest lies is a great coal producing 

 region, the thinnings from the different aged stands on the area could 

 be readily sold for mining props. 



Figures secured from cruises made in connection with other work 

 over this forest, show that this area could be made financially self- 

 sustaining besides turning in a revenue to the State Treasury within 

 two years if a small added appropriation was given the Forest Service 

 for this purpose. 



RECOMMEDATIONS 



1. The problem of adequate forest fire protection for the timber- 

 lands of the state, is in a measure a financial one. It is a problem of 

 distributing the cost equitably among all timberland owners. New 

 improvements and betterments in organization and practice are desir- 

 able and will only be possible when finances are provided. The most 

 important development in the forest protection work, which should be 

 undertaken as soon as funds can be made available, is to extend organ- 

 ized protection work to every timbered county in the state. The per- 

 manent protection resulting from a compulsory fire patrol law is much 

 desired and can only be obtained by the passage of the State Wide 

 Fire Patrol Bill which will be offered for passage during the coming 

 1930 General Assembly. 



2. That lands be purchased or acquired by gift in the state upon 

 which a practical demonstration of the application of forest principles 

 through the management of timber and woodlands may be put into 

 operation. 



3. Since the boys and girls of today are the citizens of tomorrow, 

 it is earnestly desired that forestry be taught in all schools of the 

 state. 



LET'S KEEP KENTUCKY'S WOODS GREEN 



