THE WILD 75 



remaining virgin timber tract is not shattered by the construction of some 

 irrigation project into an expanding and contracting mud flat; or some quiet 

 glade hitherto disturbed only by birds and insects and wind in the trees, 

 does not bark out the merits of a patented nostrum or the mushiness of 

 'Cocktails for Two.' Such invasions are progressing everywhere so rapidly 

 that unless fought as ardently as they are pressed there will soon be nothing 

 left .of those wilderness characteristics which make undisturbed nature the 



* 



most glorious experience in the world to many people. 



"We recognize frankly that the majority of Americans do not as yet 

 care for these values of undisturbed nature as much as for mechanically 

 disturbed nature. We are willing that they should have opened to them the 

 bulk of the 1,800,000,000 acres of outdoor America, including most of the 

 superlative scenic features in the country which have already been made 

 accessible to motorists. 



"All we desire to save from invasion is that extremely minor fraction of 

 outdoor America which yet remains free from mechanical sights and sounds 

 and smells. We do hold that those few areas which have thus far escaped 

 man-made influences must be preserved in their natural condition, unless it 

 can be clearly demonstrated that some other use is of compelling value." 



Exclusionists among wilderness lovers would bar "motor roads, radios 

 except for fire protection, railroads, cog roads, funiculars, cableways, etc." 

 They would severely limit "graded trails, ski trails, footbridges, cabins 

 and shelters, sheep and cattle grazing, fences." "Power lines, water-power 

 developments, irrigation projects, and logging operations" they would 

 prohibit entirely. "Airplanes, motorboats, telephones, lookout and ranger 

 cabins should be permitted only when they are necessary for fire protection 

 or emergency." 



As to erosion and insect control, erosion control "should be permitted 

 in areas where it is necessary to undo the effects of faulty land use"; and 

 insect control "should be permitted only when it is necessary to save the 

 wilderness forests from destruction. Endemic insect attacks occurring in 

 the wilderness should not be disturbed." 



But even in this it is evident that some concessions to modern civilization 

 are contemplated. If wilderness areas bordering civilization are given over 



