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caring for tourists gave employment to 26,400 

 persons. That use of the Hew York State Forest 

 Preserve has increased, and that the wealth of 

 the district is immeasurably augmented by this 

 recreational use cannot be doubted. "Every- 

 where throughout the Forest Preserve region in 

 both Adirondacks and Catskills", states the 

 Conservation Commission 3 , "the use of this 

 vacation ground is increasing at a tremendous 

 rate, until now the most important business of 

 the whole region is that of caring for 

 vacationists. More money is invested in hotels 

 and their properties, more people are employed, 

 more wages are paid, and the annual turn over is 

 greater than in the entire lumber business which 

 once figured as the most important activity of the 

 mountains". Statistics are very difficult to 

 compile on this subject and figures at best are 

 only approximate. But it seems safe to affirm, 

 backed by such an authority as George D. Pratt, 

 Ex- Commissi oner of Conservations 3 that the use 

 is very great and the income to the Forest 

 Preserve District of increasing economic impor- 

 tance . 



