Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1915-02-12
FOREST SERVICE
PLANS GOOD WORK

Word has gone forth from forest
headquarters to have the roads, trails,
and streams on the national forests
well marked before the camping sea-
son opens. In consequence signs con-
veying accurate. reliable information
are being prepared lat odd times dur
Ing the winter when streams and
deep snow make it .impracticable to
engage in outside work, to be placed
at points where needed throughout the
forests. At every crossroad or point
where there is a probability of leaving
the main roads or trails a sign will
indicate the direction and distance to
local geographic points. II the trail
is we'll defined there will be no further
directions until another point of di-
vergence is reached; II, however. the
trail is so dim that it is hard to dis
tinguish 1t from the many game and
stock trails, it will be "blazed" that
is trees along it will be marked with
catface slash under a line at a
height of about five feet. These blazes
should not be confused with a blaze
without a line, or bar, above 1t, since
the latter are often made by hunters
or others for the purpose of locating
game or other things they have
cached.
No longer will travellers have to rely
on the directions, sometimes misun-
derstood, that they get from the oc-
casional meeting with other pleasure
seekers, but with the trails plainly
marked persons visiting a forest for
the first time will not be delayed and
lose patience in taking a wrong trail
at a junction point; nor will they
travel for miles in doubt as to wheth.
er they have passed the point where
they were directed to turn off from
the main road to find a delightful lit
tie spot for camping, tucked away
among the wooded hills by the side
of one of the numerous mountain
meadows, just large enough to afford
abundant pasturage for the camp
stock
Many localities have two or more
creeks which have been known by the
same name, such as Deer, Moose,
Bear, or Rapid creek. This duplica-
ton of names Is being corrected,
leaving the best known creek to re-
tain its local name, and restoring to
the other, so far as practicable, its
original distinctive and euphonious In
dian name. Maps have been prepared
of some localities, showing creeks,
roads, trails, and the location of
ranger stations. The practice of call
ing at the latter is becoming the more
service and its local representatives
toward the travelling public Is the bet
ter understood. The ranger, familiar
with the remote points of his district
and lends such assis tance as is prac-
ticable, including the use of his tele-
phone, which has on the occasion OF
accident been the means of summon
hh6 hhCNiSht oooiStohSO "hCh OSIds
would have resulted in prolonged suf
fering and possible death.
While well-marked trails and tele-
phone service are of great convent
ence to the camper, the sheetiron
stove has probably contributed more
to his comfort than any other one
thing. A camp outfit, be 1t for one or
a dozen, is not complete II 1t does not
include a camp stove. The convent
ence and comfort in preparing the
meals, the saving of both labor and
wood In keeping the pot boiling, and
reducing to the minimum the danger
OF forest fires, make 1t almost indis-
pensable. These stoves can be bought
at sporting goods and outfltting stores
at prices ranging from 55 cents for a
small camp broiler to SO for a 4-hoIe
collapsible stove weighing about II
pounds. Good stoves, not collapsible,
can be had for from $1.50 to S225.
To the person going camping for
the first time, or to the man with
whom camping has become a habit,
a visit to n store that specializes In
camp equipment and sporting goods
will be long step toward making his
summer outing a success.