The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-01-20
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
ststes-speeisIiy Trained Men
Needed IN Service.

StaNs-Specially TRAINED We"
Needed In Service.
Washington.-That the use OF the
forests for recreatiOnal 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 II, is the statement made
by Col. w. Il. 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
70 become an important source OF rev.
enue. Col. Greeley points out. On the
Angeles forest in southern California.
for example, q total of ] 800 permits
for summer residences and commercial
resorts we're. he says, In effect at the
close OF the past fiscal year. The
revenue from this one item amounted
to approximately $4,000. II IL be-
lieved that within a 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 aud caring for the success.
sive groups Of city people who enjoy
their privileges.
The growth Of the recreatiOnal re
sources OF the national forests Is SC
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 thu
recognition Of the national forests a
natural breeding grounds Of fish ant
game Is closely related to the develop
merft of the recreatiOnal resources. II
make more effective the work OF gam
protection, In cooperation with tn
state and local authorities, and to sc
cure better development Of the fsi
and game resources Of the nationa
forests. Col. Greeley believes that con
gress should make provision for tn
establishment Of game sanctuarie
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 Co
Greeley to the necessity Of additions
protection for the harassed and dec
mated herds Of elk using the yellow
stone National park and the surround
ing forests. Famine and cold las
winter took an unusually heavy to
from their number. Driven out of tn
high country by starvation and earl
SHOWS, the northern herd suffere
from hunters along the boundary lin
a percentage loss equal to that Of
defeated army.
Many that escaped the hunters pc
ished from cold and starvation befoi
spring. The southern herd also lo
heavily. As a result, the total numb'
Of animals In these two herds is no
estimated by the best qualified Office
In the forest service to equal half
their number five years ago.
The addition to the Absaroka an
Gallatin forests Of the lands still
government ownership and under wit
drawal along the Yellowstone riv
north Of Gardiner is urged by Il
chief forester. This land. he states.
urgently needed as winter range {,
the elk, and its addition to the natio
al forests will materially relieve Il
situation without working an inju
tice to the local inhabitants who
live stock use the range. II this a
ton is not taken the outlook for Il
northern elk herd is gloomy. III
prospects for the southern herd a
more bright. but additional purchaI
Of land for summer feeding groun'
appear absolutely essential