The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-09-01
UNCLE SANS PLAY GROUNDS.
Thousands Seek Rest and Sport on
National Preserves.

Washington, August 27.-Uncle
Sam is continually trying to get his
people to take more vacations, and
to encourage them in so doing is the
while planning more and larger play
grounds. Here and there in differ
ent parts of the United States vast
areas have been opened up and
general invitation to all-young and
| old-has been extended to go and
play and enjoy the great beauties Of
nature that lie around US on every
hand.
The national forests of the United
States afford one of the largest and
best of these play-places, and it is
estimated that before the outing sea-
son is out that nearly half million
persons will have sought recreation
in them. Last year a total of 406,-
775 pleasure seekers found both rest
and instruction in these domains.
The use of the forest for recrea-
tion, however, is as yet only in its
beginning, but is growing steadily
and rapidly. 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 enter the big forests
to fish, to camp, to climb, and to
drink the medicinal waters; in Alas
ka, the 1000 almost solely to hunt
and fish. The $1,000 persons who
went into the Coconino forest, Ari-
zona, in the nine months went either
to camp or to enjoy the scenery.
During four months $4,000 persons
visited the Angeles, California. The
most popular of the forests is per-
haps the Pike, containing the famous
peak Of that name. The many at
fractions within it's limits, including
the scenic railway, drew not less than
100000 tourists. By principal States
the national forest visitors numbered
$4,000 in Arizona, 100000 in Cali
fornia, 100000 in Colorado, $4,000
in Montana, 10000 in New Mexico,
% 900 in Oregon, $4,000 in Idaho,
1000 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 Grove, a great lava basin In
California; the Gila Cliff Dwellings,
extensive remains of prehistoric
race in New Mexico; the unsurpassed
Grand Canyon of the Colorado, in
Arizona; Jewel Cave, South Dakota;
Lassen Peak, the terminus Of a long
line of extinct volcanoes in the Cas-
cades: the Pinnacles, a collection OF
remarkable Jagged peaks in Califor-
MIA; and the Tonto, a group OF pre-
historic ruins in the Tonto forest
in Arizona. The big trees, Glacier
park. the Petrifed Forest, the Ore
eon Caves, and numerous other phe-
nomena serve to attract many other
visitors.
The sportsman finds his paradise
in the national forests. In many or
them big game abounds. The ran
gers and the guards, besides the SER
vice they perform against the spread
of fire, often become Of use to camp
ers by pointing out the best sites on
which to pitch tents. A record OF ~
PIG miles of road laid out, and 4,8l5
miles of telephone line strung tells
what the government has done in the
way of pushing conveniences OF civil
lization into the primeval forests,
where but few years ago the wild
calls of the red men echoed through
them. The day of the Wilderness
the savage, and the pioneer is swift
" passing; the day of the national
forests as productive resources ap-
proaches. In the meantime the gov
ernment gladly invites it's people to
literally use the lands belonging to
them.
a-nrDn DTIIREn