Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-02-06


That over million ands half people |
use the National Forests ~ Fairgrounds |
each year was tho statement made by |
Henry 8. Graves, Chief OF the Forest |
Service, before the American Forestry |
Association ct Washington. "Located
as they are," said Mr.. Graves. "The Ma |
tional Forests comprise many regions OF |
superb scenery and unexcelled recre-
alton attraction. In very real sense
these attractions Of the forests consti- |
tute natural resource that must be !
safegusrded, utilized, and developed"
Mr.. Graves stated that quarter of |
century had passed since the establish
ment Of the first National Forests by q |
law which marked the beginning OF |
new and more enlightened method of
public land administration. The nine
teenth century land system, he said, was
one wholly OF land distribution, which
was successful ~ applied to agricultural
lands but unsuccessful az applied to |
non-agricultural lands chiefly valuable |
for growing timber. The keynote of the
present-day policy Is to secure such
disposition, use, and development Of
the public lands as will render q maxi
mum service to the public. "The coun-
try has recognized that public lands Of
chief value for forest purposes and ss.
sential to protect water resources should
remain under public CONTROL" Mr..
Graves continued: "The struggle 10
now on rs to who shall own and control
the public water-power sites, the coal,
oil, phosphate, and potassium deposits
and the common grazing lands that are
not suited to development BY individuals
under any of the homestead laws"
"Ten states in the East have invited
the government to establish National
Forests In their borders by purchase of
mountain lands, while others have in
augurated policy of acquiring State
Forests. Underlying this movement Is
the recognized principle that there are
public interests in mountain forests that
can not or will not be safegurded under
private ownership. Private ownership
of timberlands has been for the most
part speculative and temporary In char
acter. Where public interests are in
volved, the public must protect itself BY
direct ownership, cooperation, and ulti-
mately measure of regulation"
More and more of the larger private
holdings are. being posted with mo
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 agricul-
tural regions can find an opportunity for
the refreshment and recreation that can
be secured by sojourn in the Forests. "
Innumerable localities on the National
Forests, which are not generally known,
have a wealth of scenic beauty, Mr..
Graves said. A very practical problem,
he stated, is that of opening up and
making these great public properties
available for as wide use as possible by
people of little means as we'll as by the
wealthy.
"In the National Forests of Colorado
alone, there were last summer 676, 900
visitors. Thousands came in sutomo-
biles and used the roads built by the
Forest Service under the law which pro-
vides that ten per cent of all receipts of
the National Forests shall be spent for
road and trail building.
"The recreation features Of the Nation
al Forests are fostered in variety of
ways. Areas of scenic value are set
aside az camping sites aud are With
drawn from any use which would reduce
their beauty. Roads and trails are built
by the Forest Service to open up points
of scenic interest, streams are stocked
with fish, and sites for summer homes
can be leased for long periods"
About 25, 900 miles of trails and 5000
IS hn- haas, h,,f tho
Forests, Mr.. Graves stated. Congress
has appropriated special fund of ten
million dollars for road building on the
National Forests, which will become
available at the rate of million dollars
year. This money, added to the
quarter OLA million dollars now annually
available from the receipts of the For.
ests, will result in opening up many re-
gions now inaccessible for industrial use
and also for recreation.
"In developing the recreational re-
sources of the Forests we are planning
systematically and far ahead. Problems
of landscape and sanitary engineering
present themselves 10 large numbers and
we have associated with US distin-
guished landscape engineer to guide our
work. Our system of scenic highways
when worked out will be comprehensive
in character, and ultimately routes of
tourist travel will be furnished with
comfortable hotels and rest houses.
This development will be of great Geo.
nomio Importance to the local commu-
mites, both on account of the added bust
ness which the tourist trade will bring
and the permanent improvements which
will be made"