The Republican journal., 1910-09-15
The National Fairgrounds,

WASHINGTON, D. c., September u.
BEFORE the years outing season il over
nearly half q million persons win have
sought recreation and health in the
National Forests of the United States.
According to the record of the United
states Department Of Agriculture the
eotai last year was. in close figures, 406,-
no. With the finest mountain scenery
ana 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 development by the Government,
are FAST becoming great National play
grounds 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 for
ests at the rate of hundred per cent
per annum. The day seems not far dis
tant when million persons will annually
visit them.
The records show that the seasonal
use OF the forests runs from two months
IN 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 1000 almost solely to hunt and fish.
The 1900 persons who went into the
Coconino forest, Arizona, during nine
months, went to camp or to enjoy the
scenery. During four months SO, 900 per-
sons visited the Angeles, California.
The most popular of the forests is the
Pike, containing the famous peak OF that
name. The various attractions within
its limits, including the scenic railway,
drew 100000 tourists and others. By
principal States the National forest visi-
tors numbered %, 600 in Arizona, 103, 900
in California, lao, 900 in Colorado, $4,000
in Montana, 10, 600 in New Mexico, 33, 900
in Oregon, %, 900 in Idaho, 16, 600 in Utah
and $4,000 in Washington.
Of the natural wonders and landmarks
of interest in the National forests sew
eral have been set apart as National
monuments, among them Cinder Cone, a
great lava basin in California; the ella
Cliff Dwellings, extensive remains of a
race in New Mexico; the I'M
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 I
Pinnacles, collection of remarkable jag
ged peaks in California; and the Tonic,
a group of prehistoric ruins in the Tonic
forest in Arizona. The Big Trees, Glacier
Park, the Petrifed 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, 1926 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 convenience 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 re-
sources and as National parks ap-
proaches. The report of last years adj
ministration by the United States De-
partment of Agriculture evidences the
rapidity of the transformation.