'PRIVATE PROPERTY NO CAMPING" 



359 



GOING FISHING? 



THE FINEST TROUT STREAMS, THE BEST HUNT- 

 ING GROUNDS AND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL 

 CAMPING PLACES IN AMERICA ARE TO 

 BE FOUND WITHIN THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 



90,000,000 PEOPLE 



ARE JOINT OWNERS OF THE NATIONAL FORESTS 



ARE ONE OF THIS NUMBER 

 HELP PREVENT FOREST FIRES 



LIGHTED MATCHES, CIGARS and CIGARETTES are DANGEROUS. PUT OUT YOUR 



CAMP FIRES BEFORE LEAVING. 



KEEP THE FORESTS GREEN. 



DON'T BUILD BONFIRES. 



U. S. Department t Axricultnn: 



INVITING YOURSELF TO FISH 

 The National Forest Service goes on the theory that the 

 90,000,000 people of the United States are the real owners 

 of the National Forests. Evidence of this is afforded by 

 signs like the one pictured above, in which citizens are 

 made to invite themselves to fish, hunt and camp on their 

 own property. Prospective tourists will do well to note 

 the injunction as to preventing forest fires on their own 

 property. 



scene to drive off the party of riders. 

 This done, he approached the automo- 

 bile party and in very abusive language 

 ordered them out. They were responsible 

 for all the trouble, he explained, because 

 the riders would never have entered the 

 meadow had they not observed the auto- 

 mobile party inside the fence across the 

 river. The owner went on to say that 

 he did not object to visitors who did not 

 injure his property, but that in this case 

 real damage had been done, and there- 

 fore the party must leave at once. It is 

 due to such incidents as this that the 

 number of "No Trespass" signs steadily 

 increases. 



Can we altogether blame the owner ? I think not. The 

 problem goes beyond him. But this does not alter the 

 fact that there is an ever-growing volume of complaint 

 from the public about the keep-off policy of private land- 

 owners. So insistent are these complaints and so few are 

 the beauty spots where travelers may rest and enjoy them- . 

 selves that it would seem that something must be done 

 about the matter. Whence shall relief come? Mainly, I 

 think, from automobile clubs, towns, counties, and states, 

 which should take what steps they can to acquire beauty 

 spots along the main highways throughout the country, 

 to be maintained as public park areas for the benefit of 

 pleasure seekers. The problem is not without difficulties, 

 and to establish a thorough system of such areas in the 

 thickly populated states will call for the cooperation of 

 manv different interests. 



HOW OWNERS PROTECT THEMSELVES 



Those who have seen the damage wrought by some campers do not consider it 

 strange that owners of land should steadily increase the number of " No Tres- 

 pass* signs. If all campers would show the proper attitude toward the rights of 

 property owners these signs would be unnecessary. Because of the custom of 

 strewing papers, lunch-boxes and empty bottles over temporary resting place*, and . 

 the actual damage sometimes caused; the owners display the signs in self>dcfense. 



NOW BEAUTIFUL AND INVITING 

 But, disfigure the trees and strew the ground with empty pickle bottles and 

 papers, and then can we blame the owner for posting "No Trespass " signs ? 



A long step in this direction, and almost the first of its 

 kind, has been taken in the case of the National Forests. 

 No finer recreation grounds exist anywhere, and each year 

 a greater number of people come to the Forests for the 

 pleasures of outdoor life. The Forests belong to the public, 

 and are being developed for its benefit. Here is an example : 

 the east entrance to the Yellowstone Park is through the 

 Shoshone National Forest . Thousands of wagons and pack 

 and saddle horse parties pass over this road in a season. 

 Imagine the inconvenience to the traveler if this road 

 were lined with fences and "No Trespass" signs. But 

 it isn't. On the contrary, the Forest Service has set 

 as'de a strip of country upon each side of the road where 

 visitors to the Park may graze their horses. Certain 

 places have also been reserved as camp locations, and 

 signs are posted along the way for the visitor's guidance. 

 In short, upon this much-used thoroughfare the visitor's 

 needs are considered first ; nothing is permitted to interfere 

 with his enjoyment. 



It is the same in other places in the National 



