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Show v . CONSERVATION Conservative estimates made by men on the ground during the summer sum-mer of 1917 and this was not an average year due to war conditions show that 1200 persons visited Beaver Bea-ver canyon, Puffer lake and other; centers of attraction within the Tus-har Tus-har range east of Beaver, for recrea- tional purposes. Some were no doubt counted twice, but this does not affect our computation. 1 A further estimate Indicates that the average stay of these visitors was five days. Tf. then, the average visitor spent five days at these recreational recre-ational centers, and if we call these ten-hour days, thus converting the time per person to fifty hours; and if we multiply this by the number or I visitors (1200) we reach the total of 60,000 recreation hours. The further matter as to the market mar-ket value of this body of recreation can be determined within reasonable i limits. The human value of an hours I recreation would be hard to estimate in dollars and cents, but the conyner-; conyner-; cial value or market price of recreation recre-ation is determinable quite as easily and exactly as the price of beans or books or tobacco or any other commodity com-modity of commerce. The moves cost from 10c to 15c; vaudeville theatres cost from 25c to 50c; grand opera costs from $2.00 to $10.00; i concerts from 25c to $2.00; a base ball game costs from 25c to 50c; circus 25c to 50c plus 10c each for side shows and concert. A moment's thought will show that 10c would be the minimum rate per hour for commercialized com-mercialized recreation. If we seek comparHjn with forms of recreation, more nearly like those offered within the vast bounds of Tushar range, our results are no less convincing. For example a few men are able to maintain private hunting and fishing grounds in some of the eastern or New England states The time they pass at these privately private-ly owned resorts, costs them from $1.00 to $10.00 per hour. To take a vacation at any public seaside or commercialized mountain resort (costs from $2.00 to $10.00 per day. lit Is clearly evident that 10c per hour for recreation Is the absolute minimum. mini-mum. If, then, we used 60,000 recreation re-creation hours in 1917 and this figure will vastly increase if our recreational re-creational resources are made accessible ac-cessible valued at the minimum of 10c per hour, its worth was $6,000. Its cost was nothing. Should such an asset remain undeveloped? One more premise hardly needs argument, viz, that the average recreation re-creation within the high mountains is as valuable in all human ways as-the as-the average of commercial recreations. recre-ations. Farm Bureau News. |