The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-02-14
USE OF FORESTS
IS INCREASING
National Reserves Becoming Rec
reation Grounds for Campers
and Summer Residents.
MANY HOMES BEING BUILT
Income Promises to Be important
Source Of Revenue to the United
States-Specially Trained Men
Needena In Service.


Washington.-That the use of the
national forests for recreatioral pur-
poses is increasing rapidly and bids
fair to rank third among the major
services performed by the national
forests, with only timber production
and stream flow regulation taking pre-
cedence over It, is the statement made
by Col. w. B. Greeley, head of the for
est service, in his annual report. Many
summer homes are being erected in
the national forests by private indi-
viduals, and the use Of forests for
other forms of out-of-dOor recreation
was greater during the past year than
ever before.
The summer home business promises
to become an important source of rev.
enue, Col. Greeley points out. On the
Angeles forest in southern California,
for example, total Of 1929 permits
for summer residences and commercial
resorts were, he says. in effect at the
close Of the past fiscal year. The
revenue from this one item amounted
to approximately $4,000. 1t is be-
lieved that within few years the rev.
enues obtained from the various rec
reational settlements within the An
geles forest will pay the entire cost
Of protection and administration.
Many western communities are rec
ognizing the recreational resources Of
nearby national forests as one of their
greatest assets and privileges, Col.
Greeley says, and are establishing COM
munity camps under more or less for
NAL organization.
No Charge to Public.
The picnic camps are improved by
the construction of fireplaces, rustic
tables and seats, and are made avail
able to the public without any charge.
The vacation camps under municipal
direction charge merely the expense
of feeding and caring for the success
sive groups of city people who enjoy
their privileges
Inc growth OF the recreattOnal re-
sources Of the national forests is so
rapid that specially trained men are
needed to direct and plan for the most
effective development of this service,
Col. Greeley says.
The protection Of wild life and the
recognition Of the national forests as
natural breeding grounds Of fish and
game Is closely related to the develop
ment of the recreational resources. To
make more effective the work of game
protection, in cooperation with the
state and local authorities, and to Sc .
cure better development of the fish
and game resources Of the national
forests, Col. Greeley believes that con-
gress should make provision for the !,
establishment of game sanctuaries
within which wild life may find Sc
curity. These sanctuaries, he says,
should be relatively limited in area,
but should be established in consider
able number.
EIks Suffer Hardships.
Special attention Is called by Col.
Greeley to the necessity Of additional
protection for the harassed and deci-
mated herds Of elk using the Yellow
stone National park and the surround
ing forests. Famine and cold last
winter took an unusually heavy toll
from their number. Driven out of the
high country by starvation and early
SHOWS, the northern herd suffered
from hunters along the boundary line
percentage loss equal to that Of
defeated army.
Many that escaped the hunters per.
ished from cold and starvation before
spring. The southern herd also lost
heavily. AS result the total number
Of animals in these two herds is now
estimated by the best qualified officers
In the forest service to equal half. of
their number five years ago.
The addition to the Absaroka and
Gallatin forests of the lands still in
government ownership and under with
drawal along the Yellowstone river
north of Gardiner is urged by the
chief forester. This land, he states, is
needed as winter range for
the elk, and it's addition to the nation.
al forests will materially relieve the
situation without working an injus-
tice to the local inhabitants whose
live stock use the range. If this &C.
tion is not taken the outlook for the
northern elk herd is gloomy. The
for the southern herd are
more bright, but additional purchase
If land for summer feeding grounds
appear absolutely essential.
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