ILLINOIS AULD UIB- OWN] Beth len TT N 7 
Question: What are the outstanding features of the Pine Hills-LaRue 
Ecological Area that make this a candidate for wilderness status? 
Answer: It is an area that has been under special management since some- 
time in the 1930's. The plan was reviewed and completely updated in 
1970. The area contains a large and unique collection of both flora and 
fauna. It is also a very unique area geologically and a beautiful spot 
for mankind to meditaté and regain his relationship with his Creator. 
Question: Some observers claim that the National Forests are pleasure 
grounds for the affluent who drive from afar, while communities close 
to or in our forests are frequently impoverished because of a poor tax 
base. The 25% return from timber sales is deemed woefully inadequate 
to support schools and other amenities. Any comment, particularly in 
regard to the Shawnee? ; 
Answer: Some county governments within the Shawnee National Forest 
boundaries feel that the National Forest land which has been removed 
from their tax base is a severe burden on their ability to maintain 
county services. The current federal law provides for 25% of gross 
National Forest receipts return to counties for schools and roads. Pay- 
ments made for Fiscal Year 1973 averaged $.17 per acre. Although there 
is very littke demand for normal county services on National Forest 
land, some of the local counties feel that they are not treated fairly. 
The whole matter deserves analysis and review. 
Question: The Service has maintained a high degree of professionalism 
and espirit de corps from the beginning, due in large part to Gifford 
Pinchot and his legacy. With the restricted budgets of recent years and 
a resulting inability to carry out programs, is it possible for this high 
morale to continue? Is the Service attracting high-caliber men? 
Answer: Yes, we are still attracting very capable people; however, we are 
not able to hire enough to really replace the people we lose through 
retirement and attrition. Forest Service people through the years have 
learned how to live with adversity and they seem to be “weathering 
the storm” real well. | am sure the future has a lot of good things in 
store for land and resource management and our mission currently is 
to ‘carry on” the best we can in spite of shrinking budgets. 
Chuck Hendricks is now in his sixth year as Forest Supervisor at the 
Shawnee Forest. He started working for the National Forest Service in 
1958. He spent his first years in the Service doing engineering-type work 
on National Forests in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. From 1965-1967 he 
was Director of the Clear Creek Job Center, Toryabe National Forest, 
Carson City, Nevada. In 1968 and 1969 he was Deputy Forest Super- 
visor on the Superior National Forest in Minnesota. 
