The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-01-14

before, the national forests have as
sulned stellar role as recreational
areas in Montana. This is not sur
'prising. Nearly all of the remaining
forested lands in the state east of the
continental divide are within the ma
tional forests. The largest portion of
the wooded areas west of the divide
suitable for recreation are national for
est lands
The annual total of recreational users
of these national forests has been in
creasing steadily until the number of
such visitors per year is crowding the
100000 mark, not including other hun
dreds of thousands who enjoy scenic
drives In the national forests. The in
crease in the last three years Is esti-
mated at more than rs per cent.
Many Enjoy National Forests.
With this rise in recreational use of
the national forests has come greater
demands for facilities. The average
public likes the freshness of unspoiled
forest, but is not first-class woods
man. He wants place to pitch tent,
semblance Of home comfort when
eating, drinking. water. and place for
cooking. He also wants good fishing,
and place to swim.
Improvement by the CCC of Al ma
tional forest camp-and- picnic grounds
is important in helping to meet this
heavy demand These camp-and- pic
mic grounds aggregate about 120 acres.
Equipping them entailed construction
of 235 unitS-a table-and- bench combi-
nation and masonry campstove for
each camp site.
Other work by the CCC to enable
the national forests more adequately
to serve the needs of the hordes of
recreational users has included the i'm
provement of about 100 miles of fish
ing streams. Such work consists Of
building small dams in swift streams.
protection of banks overhanging natural
pools, and other improvements to in
crease the capacity of the waters to
support fish life. There are thousands
of miles of fishing streams in the ma
tional forests in Montana which need
such treatment. The field of fishing
stream improvement has already been
Opened By New Trails.
The construction of more than 800
miles of new national forest truck
trails by the CCC has made new and
enhancing natural recreational areas
accessible. The truck trails were built
as necessary for protection of the for
ests from fire, but by making the areas
accessible to fire control forces they
also became an aid to recreation.
Camp-and- picnic grounds developed
by the CCC are widely distributed at
carefully selected locations to serve to
the greatest extent possible the recrea-
tional needs of the public In eastern
Montana. picnicking is a principal ac-
tivity and groups in the hundreds con-
gregate at some camp and-picnic sites.
To the people from the Butte and
Great Falls areas, which are mining
and manufacturing centers, the oppor-
tunity for outdoor recreation in for
ested districts is vital as health meas
ure Almost everywhere. the national
forests take the leadership in serving
public welfare in this matter of rec
reation.
Many Enjoy Hiking.
The avocations Of the visitors are
varied. The great majority are fisher
men. Many others enjoy the scenery
and hiking Other thousands love the
lakes, and a large number seek only
the opportunity for rest and relaxation
in the inspirational natural forest sur
roundings.
National forest officers have recog-
nized the need of such recreation, anc
all improvement work is designed SO a:
to disturb as little as possible the nat
ural forest aspect which is so attrac-
tive to the recreationists.
The CCc work programs for this
present enrolment period promise i'm.
provement of additional CAMP and-pic.
mic grounds in an attpnnt tn Keen nae,