The Grit-advocate., 1900-07-13
Sheep In tho Forest Reserve.


Secretary Wilson, of the Department
of Agriculture, has received a COM
munication from Secretary Hitchcock,
OF the Department of the Interior, ask
ing his aid in solving the problem OF
grazing in the western forest reserves.
The Division of Forestry will COM
mence Immediately an Investigation
which will last several months. The
controversy over the alleged evil ef
fects of sheep grazing has involved
western cattlemen, woOlgrowers, rad
farmers in a bitter war for many
years, and the recent increase of irri-
cation has added to the bitterness.
Government action in the matter has
been FASTENED by the establishment of
forest reserves. In view of the injury
to the forests in many sections from
overgraZing, all reserves except those
in Washington and Oregon, and the
Black Mesa Reserve, In Arizona, which
Is to be opened to 100000 sheep at 3
cents head, are closed to sheep by an
order issued last May. This step has
raised storm of protest from wool
growers, who insist that no harm is
done by grazing under proper restric-
ttons. Many are reported to have
driven their herds into the mountains
last summer in defiance Of the law.
Against the sheep owners are ar
rayed the cattlemen and farmers. and
especially the irrigators, who claim
the practice means disaster to agricul-
ture in the lowlands. These argue that
sheep destroy the forest cover In the
mountains and thus diminish the
water supply. They are said not only
to eat the young growth which 10 to
perpetuate the forest, but to tramp
down innumerable seedlings and de-
stroy the layers of leaves necessary to
keep the soil in good condition. Sheep
herders are accused of burning large
areas in order to secure a growth Of
grass. While the government will
decide the matter only in the case OF
the forest reserves. these include a
large part of all the summer ranges
Of the western sheep raising states,
and the results will be of great import
ance to the American ol-growing in
dustry.
AS no general rule can be applied,
each reserve will be studied separately.
The first step Of the Division Of For
estry will be to collect impartially the
testimony Of both Sides Lists of
questions will be sent to thousands OF
sheep men and their opponents. About
July l an examination of the reserves
will begin. A number OF botanists. ir-
rigation experts, and similar scientific
men will be secured from all parts OF
the United States, and they will spend
several months in the field. In addi-
ton, all field parties of the Division of
Forestry engaged in other work in the
interested regions will be required to
give 20 the sheep question also. Sec
retary Hitchcock has asked the De-
parthent Of Agriculture to give special
attention to the following phases: Re-
lation OF grazing to taxation and the
general prosperity of specified locali-
ties. Relation Of grazing to forest
fires. Relation of grazing to the pres
erSation and reproduction of forest
Relation of grazing to irrigation and
water supply. Effects of grazing by
different kinds of stock Moderate
gra7a%s and overgrazing
The Chinese government has pro-
hibited the expectation Of pheasant
skins because the EurODean demand