Forest Service Road Work Shows Big

Increase

Washington, D. C.-During the past fiscal year 1,726 miles of roads and 6,175 miles of trails were constructed on the 149 national forests of the United States, according to report from Major R. Y. Stuart, Chief of the U. S. Forest Service. This represents an expenditure of $10,356,172, ol which $8,883,595 was F-ederal funds and 91,472,577, coopera- tive funds.

The estimated expenditures required to complete all roacl and trail work in the national forests is $232.588.200 which is divided into forest highways or first class roads forming part of State or county highway systems with:n or partly within the national forests, estimated to cost approximately- $19,057 per _mile; forest development or secbndary roads builtby the U. S. Forest Service, estimated to cojt $1,911 per mile, and trails at $130 per mile. According to the present estimate, r,vhen completed. there rvill be 16,020 miles of forest highways, 5L,703 miles of forest development roads, and 149,768 miles of trails.

To date, $lll,l79,87l has been spent by the U. S. Forest Servi.ce on roads and trails, representing $89,122,195 road funds, ff2,152,933 other Federal funds, and $19,904,743 cooperative funds. This sum has accomplished the construction of 18,455 miles of roads and 53,452 miles of trails. Highways or major roads have cost an average of $14,368 per mile; forest development roads $1,327 and trails 9171 per mile.

At present there is an annual authorization of $12,500,000 for the construction and maintenance of roads and trails in national forests. Of this amount $9,500,000 is legislatively set aside for forest highrvays or major roacls and $3,000,000 for forest development roads and trails.