In some regions the finest forests are so remote from roads that their value is much diminished. The object of the survey was to determine the position of all forests, and ascertain what extent existed with reasonable distance of land or water carriage. If the river flowing down the adjoining valley were large enough to float down logs to the plains, it might then be feasible to construct roads or timber slides to transport the logs to the water, as in Switzerland and the Black Forests.

A very important step had been taken in October, 1913, to create a permanent market for Kumaun's immense stores of chir pine, namely, by setting up factories for antiseptic treatment of railway sleepers where the big rivers of Kumaun reach the plains.

Compared to World War I, India's position as a strategic and supply center was vastly more important. After a hesitant and uncertain beginning, the demand of the Defence Department for timber gradually grew and eventually exceeded what the forest of India could supply. Generally speaking, the normal activities of the Forest Department had to be subordinated to meeting this enormous timber demand without risking the destruction and future welfare of the forests.