Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1917-02-08
People, Recreation

Washington, .. c.-That over !
million and a half people use the
National Forests as Fairgrounds each
year was the statement made by III.
8. Graves, chief Of the forest ser.
vice, before the American Forestry
Association here today. Located as
they are" said Mr.. Graves, .sthe Ma
tional Forests comprise many regions
of superb scenery and unexcelled re-
creation attraction. In a very real
sense these attractions Of the forests
constitute a natural that
must be safeguarded, utilized, and
developed"
Mr.. Graves stated that a quarter OF
a century had passed since the estab-
Iishment of the first National Forests
by q law which marked the beginning
of a and more enlightened meth
of Of public land administration. The
nineteenth century land system, he
said, was one wholly of land distribu-
ton, which was successful as applied
to agricultural lands but unsuccessful
as applied to non-agricultural lands
chiefly valuable for growing timber.
The keynote Of the present-day pol
icy ia to secur such a disposition,
use. and development Of the public
lands as will render a maximum SER
vice to the public. THE country has
recognized that public lands Of chief
value for forest purposes and essen
tial to protect water resources should
remain under public control" Mr..
Graves continued. THE struggle Is
now on as to who shall own and 0 n
troll The public water-power sites, the
coal. oil, phosphate, and potassium de-
posts and the common grazing lands
that are not suited to development by
individuals under any OF the home
stead laws"
Ten states in the east have invit-
ed the government to establish Ma
tional Forests in their borders by pur-
chase of mountain lands, while 9TH
ers have inaugurated a policy OF ac-
auiring State Forests. Underlying this
movement is the recognized principle
that there are public interests In
mountain forests that can not or will
not be safeguarded under private OWE
ership. Private ownership Of timber
lands has been for the most part
speculative and temporary in charac-
ter. Where public interests are In
yoIved, the public must protect itself
bya direct ownership, cooperation, and
ultimately a measure Of regulation
More and more OF the larger pri-
vate holding are being posted with
7s'no trespassing" signs, Mr.. Graves
said, and are closed to the public.
THE closing Of private lands points
to the value of publicly owned forest
lands where people living in cities and
hot agricultural regions can find ar
opportunity for the r~efreshment and
recreation that an be secured by 8
Innumerable localities on he ma
soiourn in the forests
tional forests, which are not generally
known, have a wealth Of scenic beau
ty, Mr. Graves said. A very practica]
problem, he stated, is that Of opening
up and@making these great public
properties available for as wide use
az possible by people Of little means
as well as by the wealthy.
"In the National Forests of Colorado
alone, there were last summer $4,000
visitors. Thousands came in automo
biles and used the roads built by thu
forest service under the law which
sroyides that ten per cent OF all re
ceipts Of the National Forests shall
be spent for road and trail building
tsThe recreation features Of the Ma
tionaI Forests are fostered in q var
ETY. Of ways. Areas OF scenic yalu'
are set aside as camping sites an
are withdrawn from any use Whicl
would reduce their beauty. Roads an
trails are built by the forest seryic
to open up points Of scenic interest
streams are stocked with fish, an
sites for summer homes can be lease
for long periods"
About $4,000 miles of trails an
1000 miles Of roads have been bull
on the Forests, Mr.. Graves statet
Congress has appropriated q specis
fund Of ten million dollars 9 roa
building on the National Forests
which will become available at IA
rate OF a million dollars a year. Til
money, added to the quarter q nj