2 MISC. PUBLICATION 9 9, 17. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



on the mountain watersheds. Without the restraining influence 

 of such a cover, early and disastrous spring floods, followed by ex- 

 treme shortages of water during the dry summer months, were 

 inevitable, with all their blighting effects upon agricultural develop- 

 ment and upon community life and growth. 



It was the recognition of these dangers which led to the establish- 

 ment of the 10 national forests of Utah, which now contain approx- 

 imately seven and a half million acres, or four times the area 

 cultivated. There are five national forests entirely within the State 

 and five others partly in adjoining States. The major portion of 

 three of the latter forests is within Utah, while the greater part of 

 the forest area of the other two is in Idaho. Supervisors' headquar- 

 ters for nine of the Utah forests, as well as the headquarters for the 

 Kaibab Forest of northern Arizona, are located in Utah. There are 

 more than TO yearlong employees — supervisors, rangers, and clerks — 

 on these national forests. The headquarters of the Intermountain 

 Region, called Region 4, which includes 26 forests in southern Idaho, 

 western Wyoming, northern Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, is located 

 at Ogden and has 52 more employees. The supply depot for all 

 national forests in the United States, with 11 employees, is also at 

 Ogden. 



National forests were not established for the purpose of returning 

 a profit, nor is the question of receipts a prime objective. Because 

 of the fact that the national forests keep lands off the State tax roll, 

 the Federal Government turns over to the counties in which the 

 forests are located 25 per cent of the gross receipts to be used for 

 schools and roads.- In addition to this 25 per cent, 10 per cent of 

 the forest receipts is used in the construction of roads and trails 

 within the national forests. Every county in the State participates 

 in these 25 per cent and 10 per cent funds. Through special legis- 

 lative acts of Congress, additional sums have been appropriated for 

 the building of roads. These appropriations have given tremendous 

 impetus to the road-building program not only of Utah, but through- 

 out the entire West. 



The following figures for the fiscal year 1929 illustrate the finan- 

 cial benefits derived by Utah from the national forests: 



National forest receipts 



Total receipts $205, 148. 21 



Appropriated to Utah for schools and roads — 25 per cent 51. 287. 05 



Net receipts to Federal Government 153, 861. 16 



National forest expenditures 



Administration .$211. 621. 77 



Research and investigations 18, 101. 74 



Roads and trails 1 356.244.95 



Other improvements 52. 212.39 



Total 638. 180. 85 



It is thus seen that the Federal Government expended $638,180.85 

 in Utah in the fiscal year 1929 for administration and improvement 



*An increase of the forest road appropriations from $7,500,000 to $12,500,000 beginning 

 July 1, 1930, will increase this item proportionately. 



