The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-12-28
have = total Of about tares nilAon

4
Waterpo~er Development
The development Of waterpOweT up
on the national forests Increased rapid
ly during the year. particularly in Cali
fornia- Il Is the purpoae OF the services
to encourage power development IN
every possible way. while safeguarding
the interests OF the public The mini
mum output from the permits now In
force is nearly 100000 horsepower.
Regulations now In force arm 70
safeguard the interests Of the pubito
prevent speculative holding Of power
sites. provide for complete and proper
DEVELOPMENT and continuous operation,
secure return to the government TOT
the privilege granted. provide means
by which states and municipalities
NAV acquire power permits. and pre-
vent unjust charges being placed on
the consumer.
improvements on the Forests.
The forests are being made lncreas-
ingly accessible. More than 800 miles
of road, nearly 500 miles OF IRE lines.
nearly I, 900 miles of telephone lines,
and 2 500 miles OF trails We're built ne
present value OF all public improve
ments on the forests Is somewhat over
$4,000 900, two-thirds OF this amount
having been put into lines OF conHnu-
nicatton and protection.
Receipts from all sources for the
year were slightly under $z,b00,OOO,
showing an increase Of IA per cent over
tration and protection were slightly
over 81, 800 900, showing a decrease
from 1912 Of per cent 1t % pointed
cut that the work Of examining and
appraising timber prsor - sale is seri-
oasly behind hand in some regions and
that larger receipts from timber are
contingent upon the funds that can be
made available for this purpose AL
though money FIR timber sale work Is
necessarily gubtracted from what Is
needed to protect the forests against
fire, improved organization OF the fire
protective system has increased it's ef-
acdency. Owing partly 10 favorable
weather conditions tbs total nre loss
was only SCI, 1000, less than 10 per cent
Of last year, which was the best to
date.
The resident population of the for
ests is given as nearly 100000. and the
transient population as over 100000.
Recreation use Of the forests Is IN
creasing greatly, and IS in some places
giving rise to tho need for careful
sanitary regulation in the interest Of
the 200 cities deriving their water
supplies from streams protected by the
forests.
Money For the States.
Under existing law, % per cent OF
the gross receipts from the forests is
paid over to the states by the federal
government for the benefit OF county
schools and roads. An additional 10
per cent Is expended in building roads
and trails for the benefit of the pub
lie. About 1857 900 Will be available
for the states during the current year
from last years receipts. besides $685.
900 provided for in the road fund. AL
togehher, including special funds to
Arizona and New Mexico, the national
forests provided nearly 1857, 900 to be
expended for the benefit of the states
In which they ara situated.
Appalachian Forests.
More than TOO Thousand acres have
been acquired for national forest pur-
poses In the southern Apalachians and
White mountains. Of which consider
ably more than half was secured dur
ing 1913. These lands are being pro-
tected against fire and the work Of the
government has greatly strengthened
local sentiment against forest fires.
Some ESQ miles Of trail. to help In fire
control, were completed during the
year.
Corporation With States.
Cooperation with states in protect
ing watersheds from nre has brought
about a cooperative field, organization
in fifteen states and the same arrange
ment is contemplated with three
others.