The Sidney herald., 1957-08-08
Outdoor
Recreation
Sources Review

tographers, mountain = climbers,
fishermen, canoists, campers and
bird-watchers. We require a close
and constant contact with the ma
tural and wilderness portions OF
this country to renew u physi-
cal, mental and spiritual strength.
During the past several dec
AIDES, Americans have turned to
the outdoors for their main rec
reation; a third of our popula-
ton travels to the national parks
and monuments and national for
ests each year, 100 million visit
state parks. These areas, togeth-
err with wildlife refugees, lakes,
rivers and woodlands, are now
contributing benefits to the health
and well-being of the people. on
a scale that has led to the rec
ignition of recreation as an in
herent value of these lands equal
to and in many instances, greater
than the financial gain that
could be realized from their eco
nomic exploitation.
Surprisingly little is known
about how much land remains
available to Americans of today
and the future for their recra-
ational enjoyment. Like Topsy,
they "jest growed," and because
of a lack of overall understand
ing of their Importance and need
for protection, in many cases they
are being whitfield away by new
housing developments, shopping
centers with huge concrete park
ing lots, and four lane highways.
Senator Clinton Anderson, at a
recent hearing on this subject,
stated that for every mile of new
highway, SO r r covered
concrete. In the present con-
tinental highway proposals, 300,-
BOO additional acres of concrete
will span the country.
Forward looking conservation
SITS have realized this unthink-
.ng trend can gradually result in
he loss of most of the nations
priceless outdoor recreation re-
sources. Recently the Sierra Club
conceived the idea of a national
survey of these remaining re-
sources and how they should be
managed to ensure they will re-
main available to I'LL people.
The Izaak Walton League of
America has brought this prob
EN- to the attention of members
If Congress. AS a result, identical
bills to establish a National Out
door Recreation Resources Re-
view Commission have been in
reduced in both the House and
senate, and hearings have recent
y been held on the subject.
These bills call for answers to
UGH questions about recreation
i land as: What does the nation
now, what is potentially
valuable, what will we require in
he future, and what shall we
II be doing to assure that we
an meet that future require
nent?
The legislation calls for a
composed of eight
congressman and seven members
ppointed by the President. They
yill make a nationwide study to
e completed by December, 1859.
naturally, such a Commission will
york closely with the National
lark Service and the U. S. For
st Service, as well as other fed
raj, state and local agencies
losely concerned with the coun-
rvs recreational needs. i,
1t has been estimated that we
ave perhaps 10 years to act to
afeguard this outdoor resource. ,
this survey is made now, q,
D immediate steps a be made !,
protect the necessary areas, ir- !
e%placeable assets will be lost ,
orever. Denuded forests, silted ,
axes, eroded hillsides, polluted ,
lvers and built-up woodlands !
an never be returned to their :
natural state, nor car :
lnds converted to industrial or :
rban use be restored. Unless .
ley are protected now, our
randchildren will be able to see
only as hard-to-believe pic J,
Tres in a history book. =
You alone can protect these vi :
i outdoor recreational resources, J,
y urging your Senator's and l
ongressmen to pass this legisla- :
and preserve our out-of- !
oors for present and future gen. '
-ations. !.