WHERE FORESTRY AND RECREATION MEET 527 



grove is eagerly sought. Often a very ordinary clump, of cottonwoods 

 along a stream is a popular picnic ground. With better roads and 

 automobile transportation, the more extensive and attractive timbered 

 lands are now accessible. 



The direct and present return from forests naturally commands 

 the interest of the owner and the pubHc, but it doesn't necessarily 

 follow that the indirect value is the least. On the contrary, it prob- 

 ably exceeds the direct utility. The influence which forests have 

 upon climate and streamflow is recognized. Why not their influence 

 upon public health, morals, and education? No one will attempt to 

 argue against the beneficial effect of a visit to the forests. The scout- 

 master makes a big point of getting his troop of boys into the forest 

 for education, inspiration, and the improvement of their health. The 

 business man goes there, not merely for a good time, but for a renewal 

 of the energy and nervous force expended by him in carrying on his 

 share of the world's business. The mothers and children go there for 

 restoration of health, patience, and strength needed by them in the 

 performance of their duties, and the development of the youngsters 

 into good citizens. 



At a recent conference of National Forest men, a paper was read, 

 in which it was shown, by calculation from figures obtained by fairly 

 correct data resulting from statistics of sheep grazed on the Cochetopa 

 National Forest, that due to mismanagement of sheep grazed upon the 

 National Forests (such as improper wintering, poor selection of breed- 

 ing stock, marketing, etc.), there resulted an annual preventable loss 

 in production of 120,000,000 pounds, expressed in GO-pound lambs, 

 2,000,000 muttons. 



Although figures are not available to show the loss of human life, 

 energy and accomplishment, can any deny that it is any the less real? 

 Whv is not the indirect recreational value of forests just as truly 

 economic as the indirect influence upon streamflow regulation? Sta- 

 tistics for the United States Army for 1918 show a mean strength of 

 2,518,499 men with a total loss of 40,692,302 man days due to disease. 

 The ratio of ineffectives per 1,000 men, including all members of the 

 Army, was 44, and this in an organization where special facilities 

 were available and special efTort made to keep men in condition. Can 

 you imagine what the ratio of non-eft'ective time would jje if applied 

 to the nation as a whole, where advantage is not taken of opportunity 



