PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 193 



was weedy or less accessible than other portions of his farm. Naturally 

 such hilly regions and waste lands which are suitable only for the pro- 

 duction of trees and which cannot be planted and cared for by the 

 individual, due to the long period required for the production of the 

 crop~ofTimiber7*should be taken over under state control and developed 

 as state forests or state forest parks. 



We need only to turn to European countries to see the extent to 

 which the forest idea and park idea are worked together. In fact, prac- 

 tically all the forest areas in the thicker populated districts in Europe 

 serve the people for parks as well. In this way the state is not only 

 securing a regular revenue from the forest products produced, but each 

 locality has splendid forested areas for recreational puposes. 



It is interesting to note the changing ideas in relation to the develop- 

 ment of our national forests. During the first years of national forest 

 administration, the people felt that the principal idea in mind was merely 

 the perpetuation of an adequate timber supply for this country. Impor- 

 tant as this feature is, it is not by any means the sole purpose of 

 our national forests. Soon after their establishment, it was 

 found that many areas were well suited for the grazing of stock. Pro- 

 vision was made to utilize the forests in this way. Later, many of the 

 forests situated in the higher mountainous regions were found to be 

 capable of being developed foir water power. This has been done and 

 the electric power developed is now being utilized in many different 

 ways. Within the past few years another means of usefulness for the 

 national forests has come to the attention of the public. Although a few 

 in the past years have made use of tlie national forests for recreational 

 purposes, yet the great majority of the people owning the 165,000,000 

 acres of national forests did not realize the value of these extensive 

 areas for camping, hunting and recreational purposes. It is only within 

 the past year or two that those in charge have undertaken the syste- 

 matic opening up of our national forest areas for the recreational use of 

 the people. The possibilities of our national forests for use and as pleas- 

 ure grounds are unlimited. Their boundaries embrace the finest scenic 

 features of our country and among the finest of the world. We are well 

 aware of the fact that the men who originated and developed the national 

 forest idea had in mind the tremendous value of these areas for the use 

 of the people. Ex-President Roosevelt in one of his messages to con- 

 gress, said that these national areas "should afford perpetual protection 

 to the native fauna and flora ; safe haven of refuge to our rapidly dimin- 

 ishing wild animals of the larger kinds, and free camping ground for 

 the ever increasing number of men and women who have learned to find 

 rest, health and recreation in the splendid forests and flower-clad mead- 

 ows of our mountains. The forest reserves should be set apart forever 

 for the use and benefit of our people as a wihole and not sacrificed to the 

 short-sighted greed of a few." 



Although the splendid national parks and national forests are found 

 largely throughout the western country and serve a limited number of 

 our. people, yet it is hardly necessary to mention the fact that the great 

 majority of the people are unable, for business or other reasons, to 



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