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000888 Clark noted that approximately 23,000 sheep under Forest Service permit grazed the area during the summer months; and Hutton reported 43,000 sheep using the San Juan side, The timber resource was considered to be extensive in both areas. The San Juan estimate was 200 million board feet, with the Rio Grande side containing an additional 229 million board feet. Both management plans provided for the eventual cutting of timber within the Primitive Areas under guidelines to prevent undue damage to the "primitive values," I n spite of the economic considerations inherent in these and other management plans for L-20 Primitive Areas, it is apparent that the Forest Service personnel involved felt they were pioneering a new concept as part of the overall land use approach to National Forest management. During these years no real or even identifiable base of public opinion existed to support or champion the National Forest wilderness concept. Hutton's words illustrate this point well: "Public sentiment is only lukewarm regarding the area," adding, prophetically, ",. ,public opinion will increase in its favor as time goes on, , , . The average tourist, however, and in fact the average citizen does not know that such an area exists. , , ," Supervisor Clark, however, reflecting on the situation on the Rio Grande side, said simply, "it is predicted that no opposition will be met in the classification and management of this area as a "Primitive Area," Public interest in the San Juan and Upper Rio Grande Primitive Areas in 1974 is keen, Acting under the mandate of the 1964 Wilderness Act, the Forest Service has reviewed the two Primitive Areas and recommended their combination as the Weminuche Wilderness, The Congress is now considering legislation to accomplish this and, in Hutton's words, ensure, ", , ,the benefits to be derived from the creation and administration of an area dedicated primarily to 'primitive things: as part of a balanced pattern of land use,"