What the National Forests Mean to Montana 



27 



most successfully grown in this region, as it will adapt itself to a 

 great variety of locations and when once established has few enemies 

 and makes rapid growth. 



REVENUE FROM THE NATIONAL FORESTS 



In addition to receipts from timber sales and grazing permits on 

 the national forests, considerable revenue is derived from sites leased 

 for summer homes and for such establishments as hotels, stores, or 

 stage stations. No charge is made for permits for school-building 

 sites, reservoir conduits, roads, trails, or telephone lines. As greater 

 use is made of the resources of the forests, revenues will increase 

 proportionately. 



To the counties containing areas of national forest land, 25 per 

 cent of the revenue obtained from such areas is turned over for road 



Fig. 19. — Big Hole Road, Bitterroot National Forest 



and school purposes. To January 1, 1924, $1,278,000 had been given 

 to Montana counties which have national-forest areas within their 

 boundaries. 



In addition, 10 per cent of forest revenue is set aside for the pur- 

 pose of building roads and trails in the national forests. These 

 improvements are of direct benefit to people traveling in sparsely 

 settled regions in or near the national forests. (Fig. 19.) 



Congress has directly appropriated about $2,000,000 for the con- 

 struction of roads needed for public travel within and adjacent to 

 the national forests of Montana. During the past three years about 

 $800,000 was allotted for roads and trails needed primarily for pro- 

 tecting, developing, and administering the forests. From this fund 

 a system of roads and trails is being constructed into areas of valu- 

 able timber, so that men with supplies and fire-fighting equipment 

 can get to fires quickly. 



