The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1909-01-01
WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST
The Work Accomplished and Plans FOR the
Future

that part of the report Of the Secretar.
Of Agriculture which is devoted to per
manent Improvements on the Govern
ment's National Forests. Such work a
the construction of miles Of road anC
trail, telephone lines, drift and pasture
fences, ranger houses and barns, ha!
opened up and improved many square
miles of territory in the ten Nationa
Forests in the state, and for these anc
similar purposes $44, ,022.34 was spent
during the last fiscal year.
Three hundred eleven and three
fourths miles of trail and II miles ol
road were built, 102 miles of telephone
lines were strung, and the Forest
ranges were improved by the construc-
ton of % miles of pasture fence and
5 q miles OF drift fence. During the
year % houses, to be used for ranger
quarters, and 6 barns, for rangers
horses were built, 4 bridges were con-
structed, and various miscellaneous
improvements were made. Many ad-
ditional Improvements are planned. In
speaking Of the permanent improve
ment work on all the National Forests,
the Secretary Of Agriculture has the
following to say in his annual report:
The agricultural appropriation act
of 1908 included an item of $500, 900,
which was made available for perman-
ent improvement work on the National
Forests. The object Of this work is to
help open up the Forests to more use
and provide means for their better and
more economical protection, through
the supply OF means of communication
and transportation, we'll located field
quarters, fire lines, fences to assist in
the handling of stock, and watering
places. These improvements are es-
sentially investments of capital, which
add greatly to the value and usefulness
OF the Forests.
THE work completed during the
year included 3,400 miles of trails,
5000 miles of telephone lines, 100
miles of wagon road, 40 miles of fire
line, $50 bridges, $50 cabins and
barns, and 800 miles of pasture and
drift fences. In addition to the sum
provided by the special improvement
fund, over 100000 from the general
fund of the Service was turned from
current expenses to defray the cost of
this work, but much Of the work plan
ned and urgently needed could not be
carried out because there was nothing
with which to pay for it.
Detailed estimates covering a total
of 100000 for permanent improve
ments, which it was desired it complete
in 1909, were submitted to the Con-
gress. They showed for the entire
amount exactly what it was proposed to
undertake on each National Forest,
and at what cost. The amount pro-
vided by the appropriation was $780,
900. For 1910 estimates will again
be submitted for permanent improve
ments, the cost of which aggregate
So74,o81. These estimates are the
result of specific and fully itemized
plans, which are on file in the Forest
Service. They are in no sense a re-
quest for lump sum, the spending Of
which remains to be planned in detail
after appropriation is made. 1t is oi
urgent importance that this work should
be provided for.
Though the construction Of per
manent Improvements entails the need
of provision for their maintenance, the
added efficiency of the Forests a:
economic resources secured through
these improvements richly repays the
cost. With the National Forests a:
with any other resources, their returns
depend on the extent to which devel
opment takes place through judicioui
outlays of capital. II the land is no
to remain a wilderness it must be made
serviceable to the needs of civilized maj
by constructive expenditures"
Acting Forest Supervisor Sylvesto
says that the plans relating to loca
improvement embraces a bridge acros
the Wenatchee river about a half mil