Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-17
RULES ISSUED FOR
NATIONAL FOREST
SUMMER HOMES
Secretary of Agriculture Pro-
mulgates Regulations for
Administering New
Land-Leasing Law

Washington, May 16-The secretary
of agriculture has promulgated set of
regulations for administering the new
law which provides that national for
est land may be leased for summer
home sites and other recreational pur-
poses in tracts of five acres or less
for periods not to exceed thirty years.
This law supplements the revocable
permit system under which recrea-
tional use of the forests already had
developed considerably. Many users
have been unwilling to make substan-
tial improvements because of the I'M
certainty 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 oc-
cupy the land for more than few
years. or to make elaborate improve
ments.
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
recreational purposes, say the regula-
lions. At the same time, since per-
mittees receive special benefits, it is
regarded as only fair that they should
reimburse the government for the ex-
penditure incurred in administering
the Forests. The rates range from IS
year up. in accordance with the To-
cation 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 in
tend to make improvements costing
less than $1,000 and to use the land for
period not longer than fifteen years.
All other permits will be approved by
the forester at Washington.
Applications must be filed with the
ignating the location of the land de-
sired, the use to be made of it. and
the approximate cost of contemplate
ed Improvements. Examination and
survey of the land will be made by
the forest service free Of charge. An
application for a hotel or summer re-
sort site must be accompanied by
plans and specifications of proposed
structures and statement as to their
probable cost. The law stipulates five
acres as the maximum, and it is be-
lieved that much less than this will
suffice for most persons, but permit
ties will not be placed close together
except when it is necessitated by
heavy demand for land in a 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
public purposes. Where provision for
the needs Of recreation users calls
for such a course, the forest service
reserves public camping or outin:
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 premises be kept neat and sani-
tary; that all reasonable precautions
be taken to prevent forest fires: and
that in the case of hotel or resort
the permittee shall conduct his bust
ness in legal and orderly manner.