Pueblo chieftain., 1922-01-01
and Wild life
IMPORTANT FOREST RESOURCES

! Washington. D.. c.. Dec. si.-outdoor
recreation ranks today as one OF tho
major resources or utilities of the Ma
tional Forests. according to tho an
nual report OF the Forest Service.
United States Department of Agricul-
ture Just out.
The presence of large numbers OF
the Forester says. creates problems OF
sanitation. of public health. and of pro-
lection of public property which can
not safely be ignored. Counties,
municipalities. and in some cases In
dividual citizens arc doing much by
planning to relieve the situation sew
crai municipal camps are examples or
tho high public ser> &C which camp
ground improvements promote. Aitcr
the fullest possible cooperation has
been secured however. there will re-
; main many important recreation areas
where action by the government VIII
be necessary to preserve public health
and property.
Much OF tho recreation resources.
says the report. may be made avail
able for commercial development under
conditions safeguarding the pubic
against poor service. discrimination. or
extortionatc charges. Rentals derived
from occupancy under permit OF Ma
tional Forest lands constitute per-
maneut and rapidly growing source OF
income. Even under present condl-
tions this activity il more than self
supporting,
"The use of the National Forests as
the habitat OF Wild game Ia OF con-
siderable public Importance. the
presence of game. adds to their at
tractiveness not only to hunters but 10
occupants generally Game presents
a combination of observation-disclosures
legal aud range. Tho most important
range problem Is in the immediate
vicinity. of tho Yellowstone National
Park. where about 1.s5o,ooo acres arc
devoted primarily to tho protection OF
elk herds
Elk Must Have More Winter. Range:
After pointing out that lack or
winter range during unfaNorahle years
has played havoc with these herds.
but that an open winter and good
spring this year hsI largely replen-
lshed both tho Jackson Hole aud tho
northern herd. and that inroads on
tho latter herd by poachers aud tusk
hunters have been almost completely
stopped by tho Forest Service. TIC re-
port continues:
But the stopping Of poschinE and
one good season do not solve tho prob
lem. which is essentially one OF winter
range. Some provision was mad"
years ago by tho federal government
FOR the Jackson Hole herd through
! purchases OF nay anu lnrouEn 'hn' .
tions to the Forest under authority OF
Congress. but the northern herd js loft
with a most unsatisfactory winter
refuge. To meet this situation tho
remaining public lands lying along the
Yellowstone river and between the
Abssroka and C;allatin National For
ests should be added to these ForcstS'
Tho National Forest says the For
ester. contain many areas which might
advantageouslv hc used for the per
petuatioin OF wiid-lifc by setting them
aside as Ennlc refugees. The dodica
tion of such areas to tn" protection Of
game would be purely y function OF
land management. the states control
over tho game being unaffected
Supplementary to these game refugees
which would serve as breeding places
there should be, declares Colonel
Greeley. definite formulated plans for
wild-ifc adminisirat ton The nativ"
beast. birl and fish population of the
Forests should be regarded and
handled Just as arc their trCc aud for