CAMP STOVES AND FIREPLACES

THE tendency for an increasing number of people to procure relief from the physical and mental strain of earning a living, by seeking the atmosphere of nature in the national forests, parks, and in thousands of other similar areas, creates an important problem for those who are concerned in meeting the needs of recreation. The problem of providing campground and picnic-area facilities, especially camp stoves and fireplaces, is increasing proportionately. The importance of this problem is further emphasized by the fact that during the summer of 1935 the throng of campers and picnickers using only the national forests had increased to 8,000,000.

Because of the influx of people, especially into the national forests, the national parks, and the State and metropolitan parks, the use of the areas adapted especially for camping and picnicking would be impractical if facilities for cooking fires and for warming fires could not be confined to camp stoves and fireplaces, for the following reasons:

A. To reduce to a minimum, on wooded areas, the ever-present fire hazard.

B. To increase the convenience and the comfort of man's use of these forest areas.

C. To protect vegetation against unnecessary destruction.

The great majority of those who are seeking recreation in the forests not only desire, but require these facilities for their convenience and comfort. There is a small minority, however, who are strongly prejudiced against the introduction of any man-made facilities into the forests. These individuals have an innate love of nature "in the raw", and they fortunately are able to adjust themselves to the conditions of nature without the aid of these facilities which are normally a part of any important campground and picnic area. Those recreation areas which are provided with facilities to increase the comfort and convenience of the people who cannot readily adapt themselves to nature "in the raw", are the most popular. In the development of any of these features, it is not practical or necessary to attempt to provide the conveniences which one can have at home. It is necessary, however, to avoid too great inconvenience in the use of these facilities in order that those who are less hardy may reap the full enjoyment from their short stay rather than to expend their energy in adapting themselves to conditions to which they have not become accustomed.

There is adequate space, especially in the great primitive areas for the small minority who desire to "rough it", to procure full opportunity to live with nature as it has existed for centuries. The great majority, however, who are living their lives under conditions which do not in any way equip them, through experience or inclination, to provide sustenance and comfort without these facilities, should be equally able to enjoy themselves in their particular way.

It is to provide for the great majority that this bulletin has been prepared in the hope that those who use, and those who may have occasion to construct, camp stoves and fireplaces may be provided with information concerning the problems of location, design, construction and use of these facilities.

While campground and picnic area stoves and fireplaces have been in demand during a number of years in the well-developed recreation areas, it is apparent that comparatively limited study has been given to this problem, and there is a great lack of dependable information upon this subject. It is evident that no definite conclusions concerning the design and construction for the most appropriate and practical types of stoves and fireplaces to be installed on different areas have been reached. It is most important, because of the lack of information available to those who are seeking an answer to this problem, that this question be given further study in the light of the experience which has been gained through this greatly increased use during the past few years.

There appeared in a recent publication the following instructions or "specifications" for the construction of parts of a camp stove or fireplace:

Three iron pipes, preferably not over 1-1/4 inches in diameter should be run across the fireplace from side to side, etc.

The walls must he sufficiently thick so that they will not crumble. Wherever large flat rocks can be obtained, they should he used. The larger they are the better, within reasonable limits.

Is it any wonder that reliable information is desired, when agencies directing recreation activities are publishing information of this kind on the basis of which to design and construct camp stoves and fireplaces?

The conditions under which camp stoves and fireplaces are designed and constructed to meet the requirements of everyday use are widely varied and there can be no one type of either camp stove or fireplace which seems best to meet all requirements. It has been necessary, therefore, to include in this discussion all of the possible types which seem of practical value.

The author appreciates fully that no discussion of this subject at the present time can be considered as complete. This compilation represents an effort to bring together, within the covers of a single volume, the best information which is available at the present time, on the basis of which further study may continue.

This discussion applies primarily to the problems which are presented in the forest camps and picnic areas of the national forests. It may apply equally well to many other types of recreation areas and to thousands of recreational developments outside of the national forests.

In further explanation of any lack of completeness in the following text and illustrations, the author calls attention to the fact that no consideration is here given to the "sophisticated" and very architectural types of stoves and fireplaces, often of elaborate design, and frequently developed on private estates in close relationship with other architectural features.

The author deeply appreciates the generous cooperation of the representatives of the Forest Service, who have supplied a quantity of valuable information on the basis of which a number of these drawings have been compiled. He is also indebted to the officials of the Forest Service, who have made possible a first-hand study of the actual conditions on the ground in many parts of the national forests. To the many individuals outside of the Forest Service, from whom information has been procured during the past 4 or 5 years, while this study has been in progress, sincere thanks are extended.

For valuable assistance in the preparation of drawings and text, a word of sincere appreciation is due to Mr. H. Dercum, architect, of Cleveland, Ohio.

April 1936.