the National Forests 27 



We have seen the wide extent and variety of recreation uses on 



the National Forests, and we have considered briefly the commer- 



cial value of this product. We are now in a 

 General . . ,. , , 



p ,. . position to discuss some of the questions of 



public policy as implied in these data. Such 



questions of policy must inevitably have a considerable influence 



on the practical administrative operations of the Forest Service. 



It would seem that the following principles may be safely 

 adopted : 



i. Recreation upon the Forest areas is a social utility of large 

 dimensions and very substantial value. 



2. Recreation of many kinds, all legitimate, develops on prac- 

 tically all areas of the National Forests. It is inherent in the 

 character of the Forests and must be recognized as a permanent 

 and universal factor in Forest administration. Only by the most 

 drastic and extraordinary administrative measures could recrea- 

 tion be excluded from particular Forest areas. 



3. Being a public utility of great value and being inevitable 

 to the Forest administration, recreation should be developed by 

 the Forest Service on the same basis as any other Forest utility. 



The most logical statement of the situation is made by saying 

 that recreation stands on a par with other major uses of the 

 Forest areas, and is to be managed on its merits precisely like 

 the others. These major uses are — 



Timber production 



Grazing. 



Watershed protection. 



Recreation. 

 And from the figures given it would appear that recreation is by 

 no means an unworthy member of this group. 



Now the policy with respect to handling these several utilities on 

 the Forest areas has never been obscure. Where two or more of 



