The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-01-25
RECREATION NOW
FOREST RESOURCE
Nations Fairgrounds Attract
Many Thousands of Visitors.
NEW PROBLEMS TO Be MET
Counties, Municipalities and Indvid-
uals Doing Much by Donations and
Constructive Planning to Solve
Problems of Sanitation, Public
Health and Protection of Property
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
dividual 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 devel-
opment under conditions safeguarding
the public against poor service, dis
elimination, or eXtortionate charges
Rentals derived from occupancy under
permit of national forest lands consti-
tute permanent and rapidly growing
source of income. Even under pres
ent conditions this activity is more
than 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
ence of game adds to their attractive
ness not only to hunters but to occu-
pants generally Game presents
combination of Observation-Disclosures
legal, and range. The most important
range problem is in the immediate
vicinity of the Yellowstone National
park. where about 100000 acres are
elk herds
After pointing out that lack of win
ter range during unfavnrable years has
played havoc with these herds, but
that an open winter and good spring
last year has largely replenished both
the Jackson Hole and the northern
herd, and that inroads on the latter
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
.er range. Some provision was made
years ago by the federal government
'or the jackson Hole herd through I
purchases of hay and through addi-
ions to the forest under authority of :
congress- but the northern herd is
eft with a most unsatisfactory win
er refuge To meet this situation .
he remaining public lands lying along
he Yellowstone river and between the a
Absaroka and Gallatin national for Z
SITS" e
RefuQes Tor Game.
The national forests, says the for >
ster, contain many acres which might y
dvantageously be used for the per- y
of wild life by setting them a
side as game refugees "The dedica-
lon of such areas to the protection Of
ame would be purely function Of g
and management, the states control ~
yer the game being unaffected"
supplementary to these game e'
cfuges which would serve as breeding ~
Iaces there should be. declares ~
oone Greeley definitely formulated -
Ians for wild-life administration q
he native beast. bird, and fish popu- ~
'tion of the forests should be regard ~
I and handled just as are their tree y
nd forage growths. "Tpder skillfnl