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MISC. PUBLICATION 10 9, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



strated the mineral value of the land. Before patent is issued, all 

 claims in national forests are passed on by a qualified mining engineer 

 of the Forest Service. 



7. Where should I apply for a permit to prospect for and develop 

 deposits of oil and gas in the national forests? 



Permits to prospect for oil and gas must be obtained from the 

 Department of the Interior. Information concerning applications 

 can be obtained from any United States land office. 



ROADS, TRAILS, AND TELEPHONE LINES 



1. Who builds the roads and trails in the national forests? 

 Koads and trails in the national forests may be built by the Federal 

 Government, the State, counties, associations and corporations, and 



The latest type ut' machinery is used in building national-forest roads and trails 



private individuals. Trail building and maintenance is now carried 

 on mainly by the Forest Service. The Bureau of Public Roads is 

 charged with the construction of all roads in the forest highway 

 system and also of forest development roads where the estimated cost 

 is $5,000 or more per mile or the services of an engineering organiza- 

 tion are required. 



When the Forest Service assumed control of the national forests 

 in 1905 there were no special appropriations for road and trail work. 

 In March, 1912, Congress passed an act which appropriated 10 per 

 cent of the receipts from the national forests in any State for road 

 and trail construction within the national forests of that State. 

 The Federal aid road acts of July 11, 1916, and February 28, 1919, 

 made appropriations for construction of roads and trails needed in 

 the administration, protection, and development of national-forest 



