The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1910-08-30
National Forests as National
Fairgrounds.

Washington. d. c., August 27.-Be-
fore the@@years' outing season is over
nearly half million persons will have
mt recreation and health in the
National Forests of the United States.
Accoi ding to The rec ord of tee IT, S.
Department Of Agriculture, the total
last year was. in close figures, 406, IT'S.
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
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 grow
ing steadily and rapidly in some of the
forests at the tate of hundred per
cent per annum. 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 d 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 medi-
cinal waters in Alaska the 1000 al
most solely to hunt and fish. The
II, OOO persons who went into the Coci-
no forest. Arizona. during nine months
went to camp or to enjoy the scenery.
During four months $4,000 persons
visited the Angeles, California. The
Lost 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 100 600 tourists and
others. Bv principal States the Ma
tlonal Forest visitors numbered %
OO0 IN Arizona, l03. 0G0 in California.
lao, 600 in Colorado. IS, 900 in Montana.
I0, O0O In New Mexico. $4,000 in Ore
gon 1900 in Idaho $1,000 in Utah.
and II, 600 in Washing ton.
OF the natural wonders and land.
marks or II tereSt in the National For
ests several nave been set apart as
National Monuments among them Gin
DER Cone, great lava basin in Cali
fornla; the Giia Cliff Dwellings, ex-
teI sive remains OF pre- historic race in
New Mexico; the unsurpassed 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
PIEnacleS, collection uf remarkable
Jagged peaks in California; and the
Tonic, group of prehistoric ruins in
the runtO 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 spoftsnan 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
Gtten point out the best site for the
camper and the easiest route. A rec
trd OF 9,2i8 miles OF trail cut, 1926
miles of load laid out; and 1851 milss
OF telephone line strung tells what the
Government has done in the way of
pushing cCnveniences of civilization
into the primeval forest. The day of
wilderness of the savage and the pio
neer lsswiftly passing the oay of Ma
tloDal Forests as productive resources
and as National parks appr ,aches.
The report of last year, administra-
ZION by the u. S. Department IF aprl-
cultural evi iences the rapidity CT the
transformation.