The mirror., 1919-05-15
Using Our National Forests
Continued nom page il

which embraces large, interesting tract in
Alaska. Mount Katmai, the dominating
feature Of this tract, holds record for
explosiveness, having had an initial erup-
tion in June 1912, which lasted three days.
The valley near this mountain, through
which flows the River Lethe, is bizarre
enough to excite the most blase Of thrill
seekers. Il has been described as the ''val-
ley of Ten Thousand Smokes
Some confusion exists in the public mind
as to the terms National Parks, Monu-
ments and Forests. The difference
which is, perhaps, more distinction than
difference between the National Parks
and National Monuments is that the for
mer are large tracts of public lands set
aside by Congress, while the latter are set
aside by proclamation of the President.
Park lands may possess scenic wonders on
ly or advantages recommending them for
use as public Fairgrounds, although fire.
quently relics are preserved in them;
National Monuments, on the other hand,
are reservations for the safeguarding of his
toric landmarks, historic and prehistoric
ruins and relics, and other objects of his
toric or scientific interest.
The first National Park, then called a
reservation, was Hot Springs at Arkansas.
Long before this the Public Lands Act had
reserved all salt and mineral springs from
I h,,S lof<
of Yellowstone National Park that Hot
Springs was made a public health resort and
park. Since then fifteen National Parks
and twenty -four Monuments have sprung
up and the American people now have
plenty of Fairgrounds.
The Forest Service is a bureau of the
Department of Agriculture, under whose
protecting wing the great Forests abide.
President Benjamin Harrison created the
first forest reserve and in the beginning the
Department of the Interior looked after
Forest affairs, but the area spread so rapid
ly and problems multiplied so fast that f.
nally the present arrangement was made to
meet the situation. The Forest Service is
always willing to cooperate with individ-
uals holding forest lands; advice is readily
given and special problems studied; and the
Service always plays the generous landlord
and host. The staff is composed of trained
experts in technical forestry and cattle
raising; mining engineers, surveyors, law
yers, entomologists and statisticians.
| Our forests are about three and one-half
times the area of all New England, in
twenty-five States and Territories. We
people of the United States are the owners
of it and being urged to take advantage of
our birthright to 60 out under our own
trees, fish in our own streams, climb our
own mountain peaks and admire the natural
and historic wonders of our realm.
The Forest Service has worked out a neat
and interesting calculation of the value in
| dollars and cents of National Forest re-
creation as compared with commercial
amusements. For instance, it argues, the
latter-including movies, car rides, theaters,
ball games, skating in rinks, and so forth =
averages in cost from twenty-five cents to
one dollar an hour; while the minimum
cost of wholesome recreation in National
Forest is ten cents an hour, in Park three
cents. Of course these calculations are
sketchy, but they were carefully made and
the figures may be taken as pretty accu-
rate.
There is an interesting town at Cascade,
California, in the heart of National Forest
land. Cascade grew out of recreation
camp, and not an inch of it can be patent
ed! Every building, street and public
utility exists by Forest Service permit, vet
the town gives every evidence of perma-
nance. The Angeles Forest north of Los
Angeles is teeming with camp houses and
almost amounts to a permanent community
too. Tourists will find in the National
Forests not only scenic beauties, but also
health, renewed strength and vitality,
found only in the great open place.