The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-09-02
NATIONAL FORESTS AS Ma.
TIONAL FAIRGROUNDS
From the u. S. Department
of Agriculture. Forest
Service

washington, ID. g., August 27.-Be-
fore 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 figures, 4o67 /.
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 recrea-
tion is as yet in its beginning, but is
growing steadily and rapidly-in some
OF the Forests at the rate of a hum
dred per cent per annum. The day
seems not far distant when a 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 uses differ. In Colorado the 1900
visitors entered the Forest to fish, to
camp, to climb and to drink the med
icinal waters; in Alaska the 1000 al
most solely to hunt and fish. The
q, 900 persons who went into the
Coconino Forest, Arizona, during
nine months, went to camp or to en-
joy the scenery. During four months
$4,000 persons the Angeles, California.
The most popular of the Forests is
the Pike, containing the famous peak
by that name. The various attractions
within it's limits, including the scenic
railway, drew 100000 tourists and
others. BY principal States the Ma
tional Forest visitors numbered $4,000
in Arizona, 100000 in California, l40,-
600 in Colorado, $4,000 in Montana,
10000 in in New Mexico, $4,000 in
Oregon, 22,OOO in Idaho, 5000 in
Utah and $4,000 in Washington.
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 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 long
line of extinct volcanoes in the Cas-
cades; the Pinnacles, collection Of
remarkable jagged peaks in Califor-
MIA; and the Tonto, group of pre-
historic ruins in the Tonto Forest in
Arizona. The Big Trees, Glacier Park
the Petritied 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
OilO1ll OlS dOOuIlUS. lllC IdIlSCTS
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 9,2l8 miles of trail cut,
1926 miles of road laid out, and 4,85l
miles Of telephone line strung tells
what the Government has done in
the way Of pushing the conveniences
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 resources and
as National parks approaches. The
report of last years administration
by the q. S. Department of Agricul-
ture evidences the rapidity of the
transformation