The morning call., 1893-01-15
A NEW PRESERVE.
TuIare Cedar Lands for a
Federal Park.
SHEEP HERDERS scATHED.
Report of B. F. Alien, Special Agent
of the General Land Office, to
the Interior Department.

him some time during the coming week.
The report has to do principally with the
question of the ACCESSIBILITY Of establishing
the projected Tulare Forest Reservation.
Mr. Allen has been engaged in careful
study of the matter since his appointment IN
October, 1891. The results of his labor are
embodied in his report, to which The CALL
has had exclusive access.
Mr.. Allen begins by Teeountlng the diff
culties he encountered in making personal
examination Of all the accessible portions of
the proposed reservation.
Immediately upon the receipt Of his letter
Of instruction he visited the locality and
began a careful and systematic study Of the
entire region. This work he continued until
driven out by the snow of December. 1891.
Ia tie following May he resumed his inves-
legations and carefully went over ali the
territory named. except the highest ranges,
and has kept up the work continuously ever
since.
The country included in the proposed
reservation Is Of such character that 1t
takes much time, strength and Dhysica en-
durance 10 make a thorough examination,
but the conclusions arrived st are sure to be
in accord with those Of every one who has
anything like an extended personal ac-
Quaintance With the country.
1uIluA lH5 III CSNt-dtiuu WIG aectkt IA ttuC
point Of comforting With the United States
ana State authorities whenever possible,
and with all persons interested in the plan
of a reservation.
map was inelosed by the agent i1di-
eating the boundaries OF the proposed res
ervation which be recommends TO be made
and the land therein to be finally set aside
and reserved under the provision Of the act
Of Congress Of March 8, 1891.
The land embraced within the described
boundaries is situated on the westerly slope
of the Sierra Nevaua Mountains, at an
elevation of from 5000 to $1,000 feet. This
westerly slope forms watershed, in which
the streams and rivers that flow into the
adjacent valley, the San Joaquin, have their
source.
It will include the district traversed by
the headwateTS Of the Kern, kaweah, San
Joaquin and Kings rivers. and if reserved
the Government will control the region
where most of the great irrigating systems
of the San Joaquin Valley begin.
In speaking Of the importance of keeping
clear the region or the headwaters and
otherwise assisting irrigation, Mr.. Allen
says that twenty years ago the middle and
southern portions of this valley was an
almost uuinhabitabe desert.
The natural rainfall is only about six
inches per annum aud is not sufficient for
the production of crops. The soll is gen.
orally of a sandy character and will not
produce crops without abundant irrigation
by artificial means. But the experience Of
the last twenty years shows that wherever
water in sufficient quantity is distributed
over this sandy plain. fruit trees, vines and
cereals can be grown in almost unparalleled
luXuTance.
During these twenty years private enter
prise has taken water from the streams
issuing from these mountains and distri-
buted il for irrigation purposes over limited
portions OF the valley with extraordinary
results Prosperous communities have been
Quilt MP with all the accom- panments of
modern civilization.
There is enough water falling as rain and
snow on the westerly slope Of the Sierra
Nevada Mountains, if properly preserved,
TO irTigate all OF this vast plain, of which
only small portion has as yet been brought
under cultivation. Unless, however, the
watersheds for these streams are preserved
complete irrigation will be Impossible, and
without irrigation this valley will again be-
come the desert it was in 1870.
1t IS an admitted proposition that unless
the watersheds OF mountain streams have a
large forest growth to retard the melting Of
snow and hold back the accumulated fall of
moisture steady and successful irrigation
through tie long and rainleSS summer
months Of California is impossible.
No more destructive agency to plant and
forest lite exists than f1Ocks Of sheep. To-
c8lculable damage has been done already
by the pasturage OF such hOcks on these
The fact that even in the mountains very
little rain falls in summer TO revive the
>tTsmpled vegetation is one reason why
sheep are so destructive to all vegetable
life. liz other mountain countries the FREE
Qaent mOuntaiE rains are great preserVa-
ton Of vegetation.
The forest fires started by herders are
peculiarly destructive to timber growth in
this region, because rains do not come to
extinguish them. The herders claim that
burning the country improves the pastur-
age and therefore unless this district is pc
iced the benefits that ought to accrue will
not be realized.
With regard to the scenic attractions Of
this region, Mr.. Allen states that it is the
toughest and most mountainous portion of
the United States, and reaches the highest
elevation in the Union outside of Alaska.
Grand canyons and lofty mountains consti-
tute the principal features of the landscaEe,
and, IN tile opinion of competent judges.
rival, if they do not surpass, the wonders of
Yosemite. II would be the part of wisdom
lie park for the uses Of all the people Of the
United States, even if there were no Ques-
ton Of irrigation involved.
The proposed reservation would also in
ciude all the forests of the famous Seqnoia
gIgantea, ana they alone ara well worthy
the best care and preservation the General
Government can give for the benefit Of all
the people.
In addition to these giant trees this region
also has the finest forests in the world of
sugar pine, cedar and other valuable trees.
which are being rHthlessly destroyed by
private parties.
If these forests were carefully preserved
they could be made not only a source of en-
joyment but OF extensive income.
With the exception of the two small lis
tricts Of KeTnville and Fresno Flats the
following observations apply to the entire
region.
There are no roads and but few trails in
the higher portions. The roads in the lower
slopes are only intended for the purpose of
hauling timber and not for general USE
There is no agricultural land whatever
within the boundaries of the proposed res
ervatlO1 unless it be some small patches
near the foothills. 1t is so rough that only
a small portion of it has been surveyed, and
those surveys have been made for the pur-
pose Of getting title to timber lands.
There are no people living within this
territory, unless now and then a miner or
hunter may be found with cabin. Some
times such squatter has few yards OF
land cultivated in vegetables.
Snow falls Ia winter to a great depth
sometimes as much as forty feet. Even
the wild animals seek a milder climate and
lower attitudes during the winter months.
There are few sawmills scattered within
the reservation, but they close down at the
first fall or snow ana are abandoned until
the following summer The establishment
Of permanent homes IN the region is an i'm
possibility.
Practically, the only use to which any Dor.
ton Of this proposed reservation has ever
been applied is place for sawmilIs and q
pasturage for sheep.
The stockmen have appropriated among
themselves all Of the meadows In the noun
tains. and although the title to the lands is
still IN the United States, yet they have an.
portioned these ranges among themselves
and hftfpFlV hnSffla IN 4.
ments thereon.
Mr.. Allen asserts that the views Of the
people OF California in relation TO the pro.