Recreation Uses on 



This oversight, however, is only local and temporary. In older 

 countries, where public forests have existed for centuries, the 

 recreation use of such areas has always been recognized. It would 

 be perfectly easy to show that recreation was, in fact, the original 

 and primary purpose in the creation of public forests. The 

 ancient law of England is most significant on this point. From 

 before Norman days until the reign of Charles II the legal defini- 

 tion of a forest stood as follows: 



A certain territorie of wooddy grounds and fruitfull pasture, priviledged for wild 

 beastes and foules of Forest Chase and Warren to rest and abide in, in the safe protec- 

 tion of the King, for his princely delight and pleasure, which territorie of ground, 

 so priviledged, is meered and bounded with irremoueable markes, meres, and bounda- 

 ries, wether knowen by matter of record or else by prescription. 1 



Passing from ancient law in England to present conditions in the 

 United States of America, we find that recreation uses on the 

 National Forests are rapidly increasing, and that they have reached 

 a stage where more definite and systematic provision must be 

 made for them in the plan of administration. In view of this situa- 

 tion, the Forester, early in 1917, commissioned the writer to make 

 an extended examination in the field and to report to him as to 

 existing conditions of recreation, with recommendations of methods 

 and general policies. 



The present report is based on a five months' field study of 

 existing conditions. Visits were made to all the Forest districts, 

 and to a considerable number of individual Forests. Special 

 attention was naturally given to those regions where recreational 

 developments appear to be most pressing. In this way it was 

 possible to hold extended consultations with Forest officers having 

 supervision of the lands thus used, and also with those private 

 citizens who are using them. 



It should be said that the point of view of the writer is that of 

 the professional landscape engineer. From this standpoint the 



1 Townley, " English Woodlands," p. i. London, 1910.' 



