24 MISC. PUBLICATION 10 9, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



8. Why are telephone lines built in the national forests? 

 Telephone lines are built to aid in carrying on the business of the 



Forest Service and in the protection of the national forests against 

 fire. 



9. Can local residents in the national forests secure connections on 

 Government telephone lines? 



Yes; provided there is no danger of overloading the line and the 

 connection will be of mutual advantage. 



RECREATION 



1. What do the national forests of the California region offer to the 

 recreationist? 



Scenic beauty, scientific and historic interest, and natural ad- 

 vantages and attractions for the tourist and camper are found in 

 abundance in the national forests of California. The Forest Ser- 

 vice is facilitating the enjoyment of these resources by the public by 

 building roads and trails, establishing camp grounds, issuing map 

 folders, and giving advice and assistance to travelers and visitors to 

 the national forests. 



2. Are there any improved camp grounds in the national forests of 

 the California region? 



Yes. There are 330 improved camp grounds in the national for- 

 ests, and the Forest Service is spending about $20,000 annually in 

 maintaining existing camp grounds and opening up new ones. If 

 all these attractive camping places were privately owned instead 

 of belonging to the Government it is estimated that visitors to the 

 mountains would pay several million dollars for the privilege of 

 using these lands for camping. 



3. Are the municipal and organization camps located in the na- 

 tional forests open to the general public? 



As a rule, such camps are only open to members of. their own 

 organization or municipality, although some camps occasionally 

 accommodate public travelers. 



4. Are there any special regulations concerning the use of the 

 national forests of the California region for recreation? 



Yes. Visitors to the national forests of the California region 

 are required to observe the following rules : 



(a) A camp-fire permit must be secured during the fire season 

 before lighting any fire on national-forest land. 



(b) Every automobile and pack-train party camping in a national 

 forest must be equipped with a shovel and an ax suitable for fire- 

 fighting purposes. You can not secure a camp-fire permit unless 

 you are so equipped. 



IF YOU DON'T KNOW, ASK A UNITED STATES FOREST 



RANGER 



