Morris tribune., 1910-09-30
NATIONAL FAIRGROUNDS
National Forests Contain Many
Attractions.

Before the years outing season is
over nearly half a million persons will
have sought recreation and health in
the National Forests Of the Uni
ted States, says Washington
Dispatch. According to the record
of the U. S. Department of Agricul
ture, the total last year was, in close
figures, 4O6. IT'S. With the finest
mountain scenery and much of the best
fishing and big-game hunting in the
United States. the National Forests,
made more and more accessible each
year through protection and develop
ment by the Government, are fast be-
coming great National Fairgrounds
for the people. The use of the For
ests for recreation is as yet in its
beginning, but is growing steadily and
rapidly in some of the Forests at the
rate of a hundred per cent per annum.
The day seems not far distant when a
million persons will annually visit
them.
The records show that the seasonal
use of the Forests runs from two
months in Colorado Forests such as
the Routt. to twelve months in Alas
kan, such as the Tongass. But the
uses differ. In Colorado the 1900
visitors entered the Forest to fish, to
camp, to climb, and to drink the med
icinal waters: in Alaska the 1000
persons almost solely to hunt and fish.
The $1,000 persons who went into
the Coconino Forest, Arizona, during
nine months, went to camp or to en-
joy the scenery. During four
months $4,000 persons visited the An
geles, California. The most popular
of the Forests is the Pike, containing
the fame Gus peak of that name. The
various attractions within it's limits,
including the scenic railway, drew
100, 900 tourists and others. By prin-
cipal States the National Forest visit
ors numbered $4,000 in Arizona,
1O3, 900 in Californa, 400 in
Colorado, $4,000 in Montana, 10000
in New Mexico, $4,000 in Oregon,
22,O in Idaho, 10000 in Utah,
and $4,000 in Washington.
Of the natural wonders and land
marks of interest in the National For
ests several have been set apart as
National Monuments, among them
Cinder Cone. a great lava basin in
California; the Gila Cliff Dwellings,
extensive remains of a prehistoric
race in New Mexico; the unsurpassed
Grand Canyon of the Colorado, in Ari-
zona; Jewel Cave, South Dakota; Las
sen Peak, the terminus of long line
of extinct volcanoes in the Cascades;
the Pinnacles. collection of remark
able jagged peaks in California; and
the Tonto, a gruOp Of prehistoric
ruins in the Tonto Forest in Arizona.
The big trees, Glacier Park, the Pet
rifed Forest, the Oregon Caves, and
numerous other phenomena serve to
attract other hosts of visitors.
The sportsman finds his paradise in
the National Forests. In many of
them big game abounds. The rangers
and the guards, besides the service
they perform against the spread of
fire, often point out the best site for
the camper and the easiest route. A
record of 9.218 miles of trail cut,
1, ,236 miles of road laid out, and 4,
851 miles of telephone line strung tells
what the Government has done in the
way of pushing the conveniences of
civilization into the primeval forest.
The day of the wilderness of the saw
age and the pioneer is swiftly pass
ing; the day of the National Forests
as productive resources and as Nation
al parks approaches. The report of
last years administration by the U.
S. Department of Agriculture evil
dences the rapidity of the transform
alton.