The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-02-17
RECREATION NOW
FO.IEST RESOURCE
Nations Fairgrounds Attract
Many Thousands of Visitors.
NEW FR9l.E..3 TO Be met

Counties, municipalities and Individ-
u2Is Doing Much by Donations and
Constructive Planning to Solve
Problems Of Sanitation, Public
Health and Protection OF Properly
Problems Forest Supervisor Faces
Headquarters Now in Cities.
prepared by the United States Department
OF AgriCulture.)
outdoor recreation ranks today as
one OF the major resources or utilities
Of the national forests, according to
the annual report OF the forest serv-
ice, United States Department Of Agri-
culture.
THE presence Of large numbers Of
people ON favored recreation areas"
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
diyiduai citizens, are doing much by
generous donations and constructive
planning to relieve the situation. Sew
eral municipal camps are examples of
the high public service which camp
ground improvements promote. After
the fullest possible cooperation has
been secured, however, there will re-
main many important recreation areas
where action by the government will
be necessary to preserve public health
and property.
much Of the recreational re-
sources says the report, may be
made available for commercial devcl-
opmcnt under conditions safeguarding
the public against poor service, dis
elimination. or eXtortionate charges.
Rentals derived from occupancy under
permit Of national forest lands cOnsti
mte a permanent and rapidly growing
source Of income. Even under pres
ept conditions this activity is more
Han self-Supporting.
Wild Game Habitat.
The use Of the national forests as
the habitat Of wild game is Of consid-
cradle public Importance. The pres
CllN "a Edliit auit~ ~ lllNlI dtlId'lINC-
ness not only TO hHnters but to occu-
pants generally. Game presents a
combination of problems-biolOgical,
legal, and range. Tie most important
range problem is In the immediate
vicinity Of the Yellowstone National
park, where about 100000 acres are
devoted primarily to the protection of
elk herds"
After pointing out that lack Of win
ter range during ~uufavorable years has
played havoc with these herds, but
that an open winter ard good spring
last year has largely ~rep!enished both
the Jackson Hole and the northern
herd, and that inroadS on the latter
herd by poachers and tusk hunters
have been almost completely stopped
by the forest service, the report con-
tinueS'
But the stopping of poaching and
one good season do not solve the prob
lem, which Is essentially one of win
ter range. Some provision was made
years ago by the federal government
for the Jackson Hole herd through
purchases of hay and through addi-
tions to the forest under authority Of
congress; but the northern herd Is
left with a most unsatisfactory win
ter refuge. To meet this situation
the remaining public lands lying along
the Yellowstone river and between the
Absaroka and Gallatin national for
eSts should be added TO these for
ests."
Refugees for Game.
The national forests, says the for
ester. contain many acres which might
advantaCeously be used for the per
petuatlou Of wild life by setting them
aside as game refugees. "The dedlca-
ion of such areas TO the protection OF
game would be purely a function OF
land management, the states control
over the game being unaffected"
Supplementary to these game
refugees which would serve as breeding
places there should be, declares
Colonel Greeley, definitely formulated
plans for wild-life administration
The aative beast, bird, and fish pOpu
lation of the forests should be regard
sd and handled just AS are their tree
sSd forage growths. Under skilIfu