Page:What to do for Uncle Sam; a first book of citizenship (IA whattodoforuncle00bail).pdf/111

Rh There would be very little space for America to play, if it were not for the Government. A good deal of the land is controlled by real estate companies who sell it to whoever can afford to buy enough for a store, or a factory site, or a home. But Uncle Sam puts his hands deep down in his pockets and takes out a good many millions of dollars. This he spends for land and trees, and for planting grass and shrubs and more trees, for laying out artificial lakes and swimming pools, and housing deer and bears and wild birds comfortably in Zoos. The Government’s National parks are among our great public land works. There are almost one hundred and seventy-five national forests. Camps of rangers live in them from May until October and guard them from fire, from over grazing by cattle, and from men cutting down trees. In these forests the deer and the wild fowl are safe, and the native woods are preserved.

It costs more money than we can count to take care of the public lands, including the national forests and the parks. As most of this expense is included in upkeep, boys and girls can help the Government by not scattering litter in the town parks, not destroying grass, shrubs, or the bark of trees, and by telling other children how valuable these public lands are, and watching for forest fires.