The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-01-06
WASHINGTON ITEMS Of
INTEREST

WASHINGTON, Jan. s-oregon
has q natural interest In that part Of
the report Of the Secretary Of Agri-
culture which is devoted 70 permanent
improvements on the Governments
National Forests, Such work as the
construction Of miles Of road and
trail, telephone lines, drift and pasture
fences, ranger houses and barns, has
opened up and improved many square
miles Of territory 10 the thirteen MAJ
ional Forests inthe State, and for these
and similar purposes sss,ioi.53 was
spent during the last fiscal year.
Four hundred thirty.seven miles Of
trail and "a miles Of road were built,
78 miles 81 telephone lines were strung
band the Forest ranges were improved
by the construction Of 50 miles of
pasture fence During the year q
houses, to be used for ranger quarters,
and 2 barns and 2 eorrals, for rangers
horses were built Four bridges were
CONSTRUCTED and various miscellaneous
improvements were made In speak
ing Of the permanent Improvement
work on all the National Forests. the
Secretary Of Agriculture has the fol.
lowing to say in his annual report;
"The agricultural appropriation act
Of 1908 included an item Of $780, 600
which was made available for perma-
ncnt improvement work on the Nat
ioral Forests, The object Of this
work Is to help open up the forests
10 more use and provide means for
their better and more economical pro-
lection, through the supply Of means
Of communication and transportation,
wcll-located field quarters, fire lines,
fences to assist in the handling cf
stock. and watering places, Thee
improvements are essentially invest
ments OF capital, which add greatly 20
the value and usefulness Of the For
eNs.
"The work completed during the
year including 3.400 miles OF trails,
5000 miles OF telephone line, 100 mi-
les Of wagon road, 10 miles Of fire
line, $50 bridges, $50 cabinsand barns,
and 600 miles Of pasture and drift
fences. In addition 10 the sum pro-
yided by the speeial-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 planned
and urgently needed could not be car
ried out because there was nothing
with which to pay for il.
Detailed estimates covering a total
of 100000 for permanent improve
ments, which il was desired to com,
plete in 1909, we're submitted to the
Congress. They showed for the en-
tire amount exactly what it was pro-
posed to undertake on each National
Forest, and at what cost, The amount
provided by the appropriation was
100000, For 1910 estimates will
again be submitted for permanent i'm
provements, the cost OF which aggre-
gate $o74,osl, These estimates are
the results Of specific and fully item
lied plans, which are on file in the
Forest Service, They are in no sense
a request for lump sum, the spending
Of which remains to be planned IN
detail after appropriation is made. i
is OF urgent importance that this work
should be provided for.
Though the construction OF perma-
nent Improvements entails the need
Of provision for their maintenance, the
added efficiency Of the Forests as
economic resources secured through
these improvements richly repays the
cost, With the National Forests as
with any other resources, their returns
depend on the extent to which de.
velopment takes place through judi
cious outlays Of capital. If the land
is not to remain a wilderness it must
be made serviceable 70 the needs Of
civilizated men by constructive ex-
penditures,