"PRIVATE PROPERTY NO 

 CAMPING" 



BY SMITH RILEY 

 DISTRICT FORESTER, DENVER, COLORADO 



"W 



ELL, of all the messes I ever saw this is the 

 worst. Why can't travelers show a little more 

 consideration for other people's property and 

 for other travelers who follow them?" 



The speaker was an owner of land, along a popularfish- 

 ing stream, traversed by a state road noted for its scenic 

 features, and his remarks were called forth by the sight of 

 a particularly attractive corner of his property strewn with 



WHERE CAMPERS ARE ENCOURAGED 

 The United States Government is contributing gener- 

 ously to the comfort of campers, rich and poor alike. In 

 National Forests tourists will find camp sites laid out for 

 their use and forage preserved for their benefit. In this 

 picture is shown a typical fire-place built by forest officers 

 in recognition of the needs of campers. Maps are pro- 

 vided and the Forest Service is doing much to stimulate 

 the recreational use of the parks. 



their lunch amid the attractive surround- 

 ings. Soon a party of horsemen appeared 

 upon the road. Reaching a meadow on 

 the far side of the river, they entered 

 through a gate, pulled off the saddles and 

 turned their mounts loose to graze, roll, 

 and trample the tall grass. After lunch 

 this second party produced guns and pro- 

 ceeded to disfigure the bole of a large 

 tree by shooting at a mark. "The report 

 of the guns disturbed stock in a nearby 

 pasture, and at the same time caused their 

 own horses to trample a great amount of 

 grass. Seen an irate owner came upon the 



FREE CAMP GROUND IN DENVER PARK 



Enterprising cities in Colorado have taken steps to meet the public need and 

 demand for places in which camps may be made. Denver has converted a part 

 of one of its largest parks into camp sites which may be occupied free of charge 

 by motorists and others who come with camp equipment, with the assurance 

 that no signs will be found warning against trespass. 



papers, lunch boxes, and broken beer bottles. The smooth 

 bark of a nearby aspen tree had been completely disfigured 

 by numberless initials of those who, after enjoying the 

 beauties of the spot, thoughtlessly abused the privilege 

 accorded them of camping there. As the owner saw the 

 matter, nothing remained for him to do but to place a 

 strong wire fence between his land and the road, and on it 

 to display a "No Trespass" sign. Such signs have blos- 

 somed along public highways in all thickly settled portions 

 of these United States. 



I recall an incident : a family started out one Sunday 

 by automobile for a day in the open. When lunch time 

 came the car was passing through a river bottom bordered 

 with large trees and green banks. Wire fences lined the 

 road closely, so that this party left their machine beside 

 the road, crawled through a somewhat dilapidated wire 

 fence, and proceeded with joy and large appetites to eat 



358 



AN ATLAS OF THE ROADSIDE 



As a part of its policy to encourage the recreational use of the National Forests 

 the Forest Service posts map-signs at strategic places along the roadside in the 

 public domain. In the foreground, near the left margin of this picture, is shown 

 a signboard on which is posted a map of the neighboring road system in this 

 forest. On the tree in the center is a sign giving additional information. 



