Gilpin observer., 1917-02-15
NO NEED FOR THE
PUBLIC FAIRGROUNDS
Editor Observer:

Editor Observer:
The residents of Gilri in county are
net interested in any way in the ef-
| forts CT a governmental department
to make public Fairgrounds" in the
mis- snamed forest reserve" imposed
uron the recrle of this pioneer re-
gion. There is not the semblance of
a forest" within a dozen miles of
Central City, yet elaborately equipped
| fire fighting staticus have been es-
tabhshed at numerous points. The
timber remaining in this section is
owned by private parties, but the for
estry officials through regulations.
assume complete jurisdiction over the
whole area.
The bureau of forestry is operated
entirely for the rev enue it may Sc
cure from the few remairing resi-
dents of the county, now nearly de-
populated; its chief activities seem
to be peddlipg a few quaken aspen
laggtngs, and issuing grazing permits
for the use Of private land and the
opposition to the granting Of any
further mineral patents. The latter
is detriment to the mining indus
| try, the county, sohccls and state,
and deprives the local authorities of
the taxes needed for the conduct of
the commonwealth.
The Old-time resident reads with
amusement the columns Of stories
printed in our newspapers extolling
the beauties of Colorado scenery; the
| surrassirg grandeur and magnificent
mountain vistas; of the vast wealth
Of lovely wild flowers and the dense
forests of impenetrable pines, the
ripping brooks filled with rainbow
trout, ard the myriad lakes lying lam
guidly alcng the rocky ridges Of the
mighty mountain reaks; of Colorado
skies that rival the rainbow, and the
wonderfully invigo rating ozone; the
gentle zeIhyrs that play upon the
mountain crests, and countless other
1
and most untamed state.
| Seemingly the writer's have sudden
ly discovered that there is little else
to boost in Colorado. and now 60 an
to raptures over the scenery, the
same as the tenderfoot tourist, and
are going the limit.
This all meets with the apprecia.
ticn Of the forestry men, who are
attempting to make Colorado the fore
most "recreational playground and
public park" in the nation. But how
does 1t help the mining industry, ag-
riculture and stock raising?
1t would seem that Colorado was
preparing to follow in the footsteps
OF California, where the tourist is
legitimate prey fer every resident; /;
where the shell game exists in more
forms than in any other spot on the
universe. The railroad and CONNER
cial bodies lavishly advertise Cali
foruia's scenic resources, and in re.
turn reap a golden harvest; they sim
ply take the money" away from the
tourists, and many Of the latter are
SO financially crippled that they have
not enough money left to get home,
and consequently go into .the graft.
ing business themselves and stay.
The forestry service is doing more
to Kill the mining industry in Colo
rado than any other one factor, and
to rlace the Centennial state in the
same position as California. They
want to rent summer home sites and
any other old thing that will give
them a paltry revenue; in return
they build few seldomused noun
tain trails for coyotes and cattle, es-
tablish a few fire-nghting and look.
out stations. and talk about re-fores.
tration; conservation of the stream
flows and the saving Of the natural
scenery from mclestation or removal.
Just Why the local papers should
continue to print every story submit
ted to them free Of cost. by the press
bureau Of the forest service. is diff.
cult to understand. The mistake Of
including all Of the mineralixed area
Of Colorado within the forest reserv-
es was made, and rather than sur
render any portion Of the public do
main to the public for the better de.
velopment OF the state, they keep
sending out perpetual apologies in
the way Of newspaper articles. In an
endeavor to impress the public as to
what grand ns'itution the forestry
service Is, and to conceal as much
as possible the hardships imposed up.