The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-12
few RULES FOR NATIONAL
FOREST SUMMER HOMES
The Secretary of Agriculture Promul
gates Regulations For the Admin
istering of the New Land-Leasing
Law of the United States

Washington, D. c., May 12.--The
secretary of agriculture has promulgat-
ed a set of regulations for administer
ing the new law which provides that
national forest land may be leased for
summer home sites and other recrea-
tional purposes in tracts of five acres
or less for periods not to exceed thirty
years. This law supplements the re-
vocable permit system under which re-
creational use of the forests already
had developed considerably. Many
users have been unwilling to make sub
stational Improvements because of the
uncertainty of tenure involved in the
old form of permit, which, however, is
still expected to meet the requirements
of persons who are not likely to occupy
the land for more than a few years, or
to make elaborate improvements.
The primary object of the term
permits,' as the leases are called is
not to obtain revenue but to promote
the use of national forest land for re-
creational purposes, say the regula-
tions. At the same time, since permit
tees receive special benefits, it is re-
garded as only fair that they should
reimburse the government for the ex-
penditure incurred in administering
the forests. The rates range from SIS
a year up, in accordance with the loca-
tion of the land, the demand for it.,
and the use to which it will be put.
The district foresters are authorized
to grant permits to applicants who
intend to make improvements costins
less than $1,000 and to use the land
for a period not longer than fifteen
years. All other permits will be approv-
ed by the forester at Washington.
Applications must be filed with the
supervisor of the forest affected, desig-
mating the location of the land desired,
the use to be made of it, and the ap-
proximate cost of contemplated i'm
provements. Examination and survey
of the land will be made by the forest
service free of charge. An application
for hotel or summer resort site must
be accompanied by plans and specifi-
cations of proposed structures and a
statement as to their probable cost.
The law stipulates five acres as the
maximum, and it is believed that much
less than this will suffice for most per-
sons, but permittees will not be placed
close together except when it is neces-
sary by heavy demand for land in
particular locality.
. Forest officers are instructed to pre-
vent monopolistic control of desirable
locations by individuals or groups and
no permits will be given for lands
which are subject to entry under the
homestead law, nor for lands which
will be needed for public or quasi-pub-
lie purposes. Where provision for the
needs of recreation users calls for such
course, the forest service reserves
public camping or outing grounds, open
without charge to all who desire to
make use of them.
The regulations provide among other
things that permittees shall comply
with State laws and the. rules of the
department of agriculture; that prem
ises be kept neat and sanitary; that
all reasonable precautions be taken to
prevent forest fires, and that in the
case of hotel or resort the permit
tee shall conduct his business in legal
and orderly manner.