Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-07-26
Plans of Federal Aid For The
States, of Which Georgia Nay
Lose Two Million Dollars

$10,O0O,0O0 for Roads and Trails ia
the National Forests.
The sum of $10,OO0,000 is made av-
ailable in yearly appropriations OF
$f,000,00o for the cooperative con-
struction and maintenance of roads
and trails within or partly within the
National forests by the United States.
states, territories, of counties ia
which the forests lie. Expenditures
| for this purpose are not to exceed ten
per cent of the value of the timber
and forage resources available for
income upon the ational forests where
the roads or trails are constructed.
Beginning with the next fiscal year
after an agreement is made between
the Secretary of Agriculture and a
state, territory, or county for the CO.
operative construction of such roads
ten per cent of all revenues from such
forests are to be applied toward REIN
bursting the U. S. Government for
funds expended in road work until
tie whole amount advanced shall have
been returned.
Purpose of Road Building in the
Forests.
The objects sought through federal
aid to roads in the National forests are
thus explained by the Secretary of
Agriculture in his annual report for
1915 in which he recommends such
Legislation as we'll as federal aid to
rural post roads:
"The real agricultural problem
within and near the forests is to
make possible the successful occu-
pancy and development of the lands
that already have been opened 10
entry or virtually patented. The mere
private ownership of land does not in
sure successful use of it. In Oregon
and Washington alone there are
about 100000 acres of logged-off
land, much of it agricultural in char
acter, now lying idle. In this condi-
tion speculative holding OF the land
for higher prices plays large part.
Another cause is the lack of trans
portation facilities. A settler may
clear land and raise crops upon it,
but he is helpless if he can not market
them. There are great areas of fer
tile land unused today on this ac-
count. In many sections near the Ma
tional Forests pioner conditions still
exist. The population is small and
the task of road building is beyond
the means of the residents. There is
little or no demand for timber and
the receipts from the forests which 90
to the community are small. The
fact that the public property is not
subject to taxation makes such com
munities feel, and very justly, that the
forests are not contributing enough to
local development.
This situation should be changed.
Assistance should be given in the
building of roads to bring into pro-
drctive use the resources of such reg
lens. Therefore the suggestion con-
tanned in the last annual report is re-
peated, that upon showing of public
necessity appropriations be made for
specific roads and similar improve
ments, to be charged against the
states future share of receipts from
the forests. Such action would pro-
mote teh local development Of agri-
culture and other resources.
ITO secure the maximum use of the
lands still remaining in Federal own
ership further legislation is needed.
There must be a constructive pro
gram which will promote development
and Safeguard public intrests. The
aim should be to make these proper
ties more useful, available to greater
numbers, and effectively instrumental
in building up industries
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General Examination for Sumter
County Teachers.