Evening star., 1933-12-26
|FECHNER REPORTS
BENEF|TS0F c. c. c.
Reviews Work of First Six
Months in Statement
Given President.

BY the Associated Press.
Protection against elements which
have in the past taken an annual toll
of hundreds of millions of dollars in
the timberlands of the United States
has been effected as the result of the
work of the Civilian Conservation Corps,
according to a report from Robert
Fechner, director of emergency conser-
walton work, which today was before
President Roosevelt,
so Lines of Activity.
doTg5ty 1eE Of aoy ayI,t IS engaged in SO
In report on the first six months
activity Of his organization, but the
great bulk Of field operations "have
EIa+ Reen directed re toward hreproohng the
korestS Co the greatest possible extent
the protection of the forests from tree
bltaCklng insects and diseases which
annually kill millions of valuable trees,
me prevention of soil erosion which
government experts state annually
causes losses running into hundreds OF
millions of dollars and the improvement
vi park areas for recreational use''
Turning to actual figures, the director
Showed that the 800 900 men under his
command spent 400 900 man-days fight
eng forest fires, planted trees on more
tnan $4,000 acres and started paintings
pm $4,000 more, completed disease con-
trol work on l,675,000 acres, and rodent
fontrol work on another 3566,918.
More than 100000 acres were sub
.fected to pest control operations, and
n, ,459 were gone over to eradicate
poisonous plants. Workers constructed
p2671 miles of trails, 1929 bridges and
$4,000 soil erosion dams.
8 The TpnOrt which he
accomplishments of 5000 Indians in
Indian conservation camps, said the
benefits were not confined to the forest
lRreaS actually worked, but extended
alSo to millions of acres of adjoining
Hand.
Work of Permanent Value.
Improvements done by the C. c. C.
Rnd the Indians" Fechner asserted.
will prove of permanent value to the
forests. The forest resources of the
sNation have been given new and val
uable protection from fire, pests and
disease, which in the past have taken
jan annual toll estimated il the hun
6reds of millions of dollars.
Stands Of timber have been i'm
proved, erosion of land checked, ranges
for the great live stock industry i'm
proved and recreational facilities for
the public multiplied. The value of
our national and State forests and our
national parks has been greatly en-
hanced''
Fechner said he was informed by
f. A. SlcoX of the Department of Ag-
Ticultures Forest Service that fire
losses in national forests were cut more
than half during the first 10 months
OF 1888, largely through efforts of the
C. c. c. From Arno B. Cammerer, d.
rector of the Office of National Parks.
Buildings and Reservations, he received
word that the corps was the main in
fuence in reduction of 81 per cent
in forest fire loss in national parks
under the first 10 months of last year
Improvements admittedly required
for years, but impossible of entire
achievement for 10 or 20 years in the
national park areas, and probably not
that soon in State Park areas have
been accomplished or are in the pro-
cess of accomplishment" Fechner said.
'-As a result, generations to come will
derive social benefits from our great
recreational areas almost undreamed
of when these reservations were es-
tablished''
Most Of the work was accomplished
in July, August and September, he ex-
planned. His report covered no op-
erations after September 80.