MINERS 223 



has developed the tourist business into a major industry. Chambers of 

 commerce, development associations, luncheon clubs, and the like are 

 deeply interested in the commercial angle of the recreation trade, as pre- 

 sented by the 30-odd million visits for recreation which are now made to 

 the national forests each summer. The numerically powerful outdoor organi- 

 zations, such as mountain clubs and wilderness and nature societies, are also 

 interested in various phases of recreation and are displaying an increasing 

 tendency to insist on complete preservation of natural attractions. Several 

 million fishermen are not interested at all in mining but are keenly alive to 

 the fishing values which unrestricted mining jeopardizes. All of these groups 

 are becoming more and more critical of interference through fraudulent or 

 ill-advised mining. 



If all of these interests become united and organized, their impatience 

 with the present abuses may easily result in too drastic restrictions upon 

 mining development. The balance of power and of public opinion rests 

 with the millions of people who do not live in the mining States. There is 

 definitely a problem here which needs the cooperative and constructive 

 attention of the mining industry and the responsible public agencies. 



