The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1910-09-09
Republican Platform.
National Forests As National Play
grounds.

Washington, D. C.-BeforeJ 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.
I According to the record of the U. ,.
Department of Agriculture, the total
last year was, in close figures, 4G6, 10.
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 development by the
Government, are fast becoming great
National Fairgrounds for the people.
The use of the Forests for recre-
alton 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 aunum. The day seems
not far distant when million persons
will annually 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 use differ. In Colorado the 1000
visitors entered the Forest to fsu, to
camp, to climb, and to drink the
medicinal waters: in Alaska the 1000
almost solely to hunt and fish. The
2I 900 persons who went into the
Coconiuo Forest, Arizona, during nine
months. went to camp or to enjoy the
scenery. During four months $4,000
persons visited the Angeles, Cali
fornia. The most popular of the For
ests 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 prin-
cipal States the National Forest
visitors numbered $4,000 N Arizona,
TO-, 900 in California, 10000 in Colo
rado, 10 900 in Montana, 10, 600 in New
Mexico, $4,000 in Oregon, $4,000 in
Idaho, 49, 900 in Utah, and 1900 in
Washington.
Of the natural wonders and land
marks of interest in the National
Forests several haye 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
Arizona; Jewel Cave, South Dakota;
I,assen Peak, the terminus of a long
| line of extinct volcanoes in the Cas-
cades: the Pinnacles, a collection of
reuarka BILE jagged peaks in Cali
fornia; and the TontO, d group of
prehistoric ruins in the Tonto Forest
in Arizona. The Big Trees, Glacier
Park, the Petrifed Forest, the Oregon
Caves, and numerous other phenomena
serve to attract other hosts of visit
ors.
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 9,2lS miles of trail cut,
|, ,236 miles of road laid out, and 1851
miles of telephone line strung tells
what the Government has done in the
way of pushing the conveniences OF
Iciyiliza tioi1 into the DrimeVal forest
The day OF the wilderness of the
sa wage and the pioneer is swiftly
passing; the day of the National For
ests as productive resources and as
National parks approaches. The
report of last years administration
by the L. S. Department of Agri-
culture evidences the rap;dity of the
Transformation.