The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-09-16
NATIONAL FOREST PLAYGROUND
thousands of People Spend Their Annual
Vacation Camping Out in the
National Forests

Before the years outing season is
over nearly half a million persons will
have sought recreation and health in
the national forests of the United States.
According to the record of the u. S.
department Of agriculture the total last
year was in close figures 406,775.
With the finest mountain scenery and
much of the best fishing and big game
hunting in the United States, the ma
tional forests, made more and more ac-
cessible each year thru 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 grow
ing steadily and rapidly-in some of
the forests at the rate of 100 per cent
per annum. The day seems not far
distant when a million persons will an
nually 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 $1,000 persons who
went into the Coconino forest, Arizona,
during nine months, went to camp or to
enjoy the scenery. In four months
$4,000 persons visited the Angeles,
California. The most popular of the
forests is the Pike, containing the fa-
nous peak of that name. The various
attractions within its limits, including
the scenic railway, drew 100000 tour
lists and others. By principal states
the national forest visitors numbered
$4,000 in Arizona, $4,000 in Califor-
MIA, 100000 in Colorado, 10000 in
Montana, 10000 in New Mexico, 49,
900 in Oregon, $4,000 in Idaho, TO-
900 in Utah, and $4,000 in Wash
ington.
OF the natural wonders and land
marks of interest in the national forests
several 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 prehistoric race in New Mexico;
the unsurpassed Grand Canyon of the
Colorado, in Arizona; Jewel Cave,
South Dakota; Lassen Peak, the ter
minus of long line of extinct volca-
noes in the Cascades; the Pinnacles, a
collection of remarkable jagged peaks
in California; and the Tonic, 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
o218 miles of trail cut, 1886 miles OF
road laid out, and 4851 miles of tele-
phone line strung tells what the gov
eminent has done in the way of push
ing the conveniences of civilization in
to the primeval forest. The day OF the
wilderness of the savage and the plo-
neer is swiftly passing; the day OF the
national forests as productive resources
and as national parks approaches. The
report of last years administration by
the U. S. Department Of Agriculture
evidences the rapidity Of the transfor-
nation.