PHILIP E. MILES 
 
 
2- 
 
"Roadless, axeless, hotel-less", as Aldo Leopold has expressed
it, 
in his publisearticle on this region. There is the heartening 
possibility uf min, t-ru trails for all, of less well-arked trails 
for the more experlenced, and of undisturbed, virgin areas, 
        If that be done, in my belief the attraction and the challenge 
of the undeveloped areas off     trlad  will draw people from near 
and fa   iyear after yeart o explore a little at a im     And in 
view, the area will be of inceasing interest and benefit as t Ime 
passos. 
        But inii  belief, if the area be opened wide with roads, it 
will not exert that attractIon. And something priceless will hnave 
been lost to this whole, broad region of our coutry: an area of 
virgin, primeval hemlock - hardwood forest in vhich, wthout oross- 
inC a road, one can walk a full day from north to south and from 
east to west, a   I       to do so: in those several respects, (so 
far as I can learnTi i,, ,ýeThireTn; and a livirng reservoir of many

of the foms of native life. 
        In any case, mar there be no interior roadl The area is not 
large enouFh, in my honest opinion, to sustain it without serious 
impairment of its major values. More justification could be found 
for increaslng tlh Park area, to withstand the impact of increased 
use as t imbered areas elsewhere are liquidated. 
        Be it admitted that on one occasion only, I heard the views 
whi.h I hav herein expressed, opposed as undemocratic. But what is 
more democratic than walking? . . . . I am unable to see that the 
objection is valid. On the contrary, it seems to me that the maxim 
is provided for all; and that a goal ind a means to it are provided 
for very .any, The setting, easy routes, the attraction and the 
challenGe of undisturbed areas, are there for all. In the end, one 
must leave roads and trails behind to have the experience of t 
wildarness, -   ich most of us seem to want o do. I do not speak 
as a fisherman, but assuredly fishermen must know that over any 
extended  eriod, the price of good fishing is to quit smooth palhs. 
        Let ne urg- once more that Dr. Bradley's report receive 
earnest and favorable consideration. 
        In so sayln, -ay I add that I have some measure of acqualnt- 
ance with the area, having in past years flown over it; walkod over 
it from north to south and from east to west (from Lake of the CLoudo 
to the mouth of the Black "ivor); and having visited the mouths of the.

several rivers by boat on the big lake. DurIng 141 and 1942, in 
infozral associati on with others, I did what I could to enlist Interest

in acquisition of it for th public benefit. 
 
        Further, having observed over some twenty-five years the 
courso of events coincident with the develop=nt of roads in a wild 
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