REPOBT OP THE FORESTER. 15 



ENGINEERING. 



In the appropriation act of March 4, 1907, a fund of $500,000 was 

 provided for permanent improvement work on the National Forests, 

 $125,000 of which was made available for use during the then current 

 fiscal year. Urgent need existed for the construction of telephone 

 lines to expedite the administrative work of the Forests, and espe- 

 cially to make it possible for supervisors to get prompt notice in 

 case of fire or trespass; trails, roads, and bridges to develop the 

 resources of the Forests by opening up regions now inaccessible; 

 cabins to shelter members of the protective force and to safeguard 

 Government property; pasture fences to protect the stock of Forest 

 officers; and drift fences to prevent confusion in the handling of 

 grazing herds. 



Estimates of needed improvements were received from supervisors 

 aggregating $400,000, and expenditures amounting to $170,000 for 

 cabins, fences, fire lines, 700 miles of telephone lines, 900 miles of 

 roads and trails, and other improvements were authorized before 

 the end of the fiscal year. Active work was begun in carrying out 

 projects chargeable to the fund of $125,000 made immediately 

 available. 



Five commercial power plants on two National Forests were in- 

 spected and found to be in accordance with permit stipulations. 



WOBK FOB THE ENSUING YEAE. 



The work planned includes the construction of over 3,500 miles 

 of telephone line, 3,000 miles of trail, 200 miles of road, 250 bridges, 

 500 miles of drift and boundary fences, and 500 cabins and barns. 

 The large number of Forests upon which the work will be carried on 

 simultaneously will make necessary a large increase in the force of 

 supervising engineers. 



A number of the roads will be built in cooperation with States 

 and counties. In Idaho, for example, $4,000 will be expended in 

 cooperation with the State to build a State road from Boise to At- 

 lanta, and $3,000 to open a wagon road from Harpster to Elk City 

 and to reconstruct the old and well-known Salmon Eiver trail. 

 About $4,000 will be spent in reopening and repairing the Lolo mili- 

 tary trail, which many years ago made accessible a territory rich in 

 possibilities, and which will shorten the route between the eastern and 

 western portions of the State by many miles. Eoad work in co- 

 operation with counties will be undertaken in Colorado, Oregon, and 

 Idaho, and probably in other States. 



Fire lines to cost $10,000 will be built on the San Bernardino Na- 

 tional Forest in cooperation with the State of California. 



^ ACCOTTNTS. 



An annual statement was prepared for the accounting officers of 

 the Treasury showing receipts from sales of products on the different 

 National Forests, this statement is used by the Secretary of the 

 Treasury in determining the 10 per cent required by law to be 

 deducted and turned over to the States and Territories in which the 

 Forests are situated for the benefit of public schools and public roads. 



