ROADS AND TRAILS 



291 



paved and unpaved. Paved roads are first-class in every respect and 

 are usually maintained by the State, being macadamized and each 

 length of road being in charge of a separate laborer outside the employ 

 of the Forest Service. A great many forests are traversed by first-class ■ 

 main route national highways which are always kept in perfect condition. 

 The dirt forest road is maintained by a charge on the purchaser of tim- 

 ber, a certain tax being added for road maintenance, usually amounting 



Fig. 21. — A graded trail, which serves as a compartment boundary, and which can 

 be used by tourists. 



to about 4 per cent of the purchase price. In the Landes the sand 

 makes cheap dirt forest roads impossible and the roads are merely 

 lanes cut through the forest, covered with branches and pine needles so 

 that the wheels can get traction. Near the frontiers special permission 

 must be secured before building forest roads on account of their strategic 

 value to the enemy in case of an attack. One unfortunate feature of 

 French State forest roads is illustrated by the roads in the forest of 

 Levier in the Jura; here the forest roads were laid out at right angles 



