24 



existing transportation facilities, value of timber, or other resources 

 served, relative fire danger, and comparative difficulties of road 

 and trail construction 



The balance of such appropriations shall be expended by the Secre- 

 tary of Agriculture in the survey, construction, reconstruction, and 

 maintenance of forest roads of primary importance to the State, 

 counties, or communities within, adjoining, or adjacent to the na- 

 tional forests, and shall be prorated and apportioned by the Secretary 

 of Agriculture for expenditures in the several States, Alaska, and f 

 Porto Rico, according to the area and value of the land owned by 

 the Government within the national forests therein as determined 

 by the Secretary of Agriculture from such information, investiga- 

 tion, sources, and departments -as the Secretary of Agriculture may 

 deem most accurate. 



Cooperation of Territories, States, and civil subdivisions thereof 

 may be accepted but shall not be required by the Secretary of Agri- 

 culture. 



The Secretary of Agriculture may enter into contract with any 

 Territory, State, or civil subdivision thereof for the construction, 

 reconstruction, or maintenance of any forest road or trail, or part 

 thereof. 



Construction work on forest roads or trails estimated to cost 

 $5,0C0, or more per mile, exclusive of bridges, shall be advertised 

 and let to contract. 



If such estimated cost is less than $5,000 per mile, or if, after 

 proper advertising, no acceptable bid is received, or the bids are 

 deemed excessive, the work may be done by the Secretary of Agri- 

 culture on his own account; and for such purpose the Secretary of 

 Agriculture may purchase, lease, hire, rent, or otherwise obtain all 

 necessary supplies, materials, tools, equipment, and facilities required 

 to perform the work. 



Any appropriation made in this section or that may hereafter be 

 made for expenditures under the provision of this section may be ex- 

 pended for the purpose herein authorized and for the payment of 

 wages, sa aries, and other expenses for help employed in connection 

 with such work. 



Act of January 18, 1927 (44 Stat. 1006) 



That the Secretary of Agriculture may incur obligations, approve 

 projects, or enter into contracts under his apportionment and prorat- 

 ing of this authorization, and his action in so doing shall be deemed 

 a contractual obligation on the part of the Federal Government for 

 the payment of the cost thereof: Provided further, That the appro- 

 priations heretofore, herein, and hereafter made for the purpose 

 of carrying out the provisions of section 8 of the act of July 11, 1916, I 

 and of section 23 of the Federal highway act of November 9, 1921, 

 and acts amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto, shall be con- 

 sidered available for the purpose of discharging the obligations 

 created thereunder in any State or Territory. 



