the National Forests 37 



7. The protection of particularly good scenery and of relics of 

 historic or archaeological value is also recognized as a proper 

 function of Forest Service administration. 



8. Several National Monuments assigned to the care of the 

 Forest Service are maintained mainly for recreational purposes 

 and for purposes of study. 



9. The extent to which the Forest areas are already being used 

 for recreation is remarkable. It appears that about 3,000,000 

 persons annually visit the Forests for recreation, and that their 

 number is rapidly increasing. It is estimated that the average 

 stay of these visitors is two and one-half days. 



10. A cash valuation may be reasonably placed on this body of 

 recreation. According to the lowest possible estimates it would 

 have a commercial value of $7,500,000 annually. 



1 1 . At all events it seems obvious that recreation must be 

 recognized as a large and highly valuable utility in the National 

 Forests, and that this utility must be fairly conserved and devel- 

 oped in proportion to its value to the public. 



12. To this end the Forest Service should undertake to make a 

 study of general recreation policies and of the specific require- 

 ments of specific areas within the National Forests, so as to arrive 

 at a correct estimate of recreation values and to provide the 

 best means of developing and administering these utilities. 



13. In this work the Forest Service should employ men suitably 

 trained and experienced in recreation, landscape engineering, and 

 related subjects. 



