222 FOREST OUTINGS 



of large wilderness areas. Mining operations involve the use of water in 

 many cases, and the pollution of lakes and streams from tailings, sludge, 

 and chemical mill wastes, often affects entire watersheds and streams for 

 miles below the mines. Many States have local statutes covering the pollu- 

 tion problem, but enforcement is usually inadequate and often lacking. 



It is obvious that effective and full exploitation of mineral resources 

 cannot be had without these or similar developments. It is also evident 

 that in the very nature of things, such developments will hinder, if not 

 largely prevent, any substantial recreational use of mineralized zones. 



The Present Statutes deal only with the individual claim and only from 

 the mineral angle. Higher public values of the claim, both in itself and in 

 conjunction with adjacent areas, are not recognized. For example, a couple 

 of miners established a small placer operation on the headwaters of a fine 

 trout stream. This enterprise produced just enough gold, much less than 

 wages, to support these men but it threatened to destroy entirely the trout 

 fishing enjoyed by hundreds. Under the mining laws, the claimants could not 

 be dispossessed. Finally the fishermen banded together and bought the 

 miners out. 



In another instance some miners established a very doubtful mine back in 

 a beautiful wilderness area and built a wagon road to the mine. Automobiles 

 followed and as a result fishing was ruined, the primitive charm of the area 

 destroyed, and a thriving local industry that handled horseback tourist 

 travel was crippled. This mine is not a fraudulent enterprise, even though 

 it has never produced a commercial shipment of ore. Other cases of a 

 comparable nature are known, many others are impending. There is no 

 need to recite a long list of similar happenings. The point is that these 

 illustrations represent mining activities that are not necessarily fraudulent 

 but, nevertheless, result in decided injury to other public interests. 



The development of mining property on which the values are so low 

 grade as to preclude present economic development but which may inter- 

 fere with what the public regards as much more important uses, are attract- 

 ing more and more unfavorable attention. 



The tremendously increased interest in outdoor recreation in recent years 



