Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-10-18
National Forests as Fairgrounds.

During the years outing season nearly
half million persons sought recreation
and health in the National Forests Of
the United States. According TO the
record of the U. S. Department of Agri-
culture, the total last year was, in close
figures, 4O8,775. With the finest mount
ain scenery and much of the best fishing
and big.gams hunting in the United
States, the National Forests, made more
and more accessible each year through
protection and development by the
Government, are fast becoming great
National Fairgrounds for the people.
The use of the Forests for recreation
is as yet in its beginning, but is growing
steadily and rapidly-in some of the
Forests at the rate of hundred per cent
per annum. The day seems not far dis
tant when million persons will annual
~ visit them.
The records show that the seasonal
use of the Forests runs from two months
in a Colorado Forest, such as the Routt,
to twelve months in an Alaskan, such as
the Tongass. But the uses differ. In
Colorado the 1000 visitors entered the
Forest to fish, to camp, to climb, and to
drink the medicinal waters; in Alaska
the ], 900 almost solely to hunt and fish.
The q 900 persons who went into the
Coconuo Forest, Arizona, during nine
months, went to camp or to enjoy the
scenery. During four months $4,000
persons visited the Angeles, California.
The most popular of the Forests is the
Pike, containing the famous peak of that
n
it's limits. including the scenic railway,
drew 100000 tourists and Others. BY
principal states the National Forest
visitors numbered $4,000 in Arizona,
1O3, 900 in California, 100000 in Colorado,
Is, 600 In Montana, 10000 in New Mexico,
81, 900 in Oregon, %, 900 In Idaho, 10000
in Utah, and 10000 in Washington.
OF the natural wonders and landmarks
of interest in the National Forests sever
al have been set apart as National Monu-
ments, among them Cinder Gone, a great
lava basin in California; the ella Cliff
Dwellings, extensive remains of a prehis-
toric race in New Mexico; the unsur-
passed Grand Canyon of the Colorado,
in Arizona; Jewel Cave, South Dakota;
Lassen Peak, the terminus of long line
of extinct volcanoes in the Cascades; the
Pinnacles, a collection of remarkable
Jagged peaks in California; and the Ton
to, a group of prehistoric ruins in the
Tonic Forest in Arizona. The Big
Trees, Glacier Park, the Petrified For
est, 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 aud the
easiest route. A record of 9,2lS miles of
trail cut, 1926 miles of road laid out,
and ASH 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 savage and
the pioneer is swiftly passing; the day
of the National Forests as productive
resources and as National parks ap-
proaches. The report of last years adj
ministration by the U. s. Department of
Agriculture evidences the rapidity of the
transformation