New-York tribune., 1901-01-28
FOREST RESERVE IN ARIZONA.
A TRACT OF NEARLY TWO MILLION ACRES
TO BE SET ASIDE.

Washington Jan n (SpeciaD.-The Secretary OF
the Interior has signed an agreement with the in
div!dual OF nearly one million acres or tim
Der land contiguous 10 similar lands already
owned by the Government in the San francisco
Mountain region OF Northern Arizona, by virtue or
which these owners renquish their holdings in
exchange for public lands elsewhere. This agree
ment makes possible the solidihcation OF nearly
two million acres of magnificent forest. which VIII
be declared the San Francisco Mountain Reserve
as soon tho exchange of lands IS effected and the
President issues the proclamation usual IN such
cases This action OF the Secretary Of the Interior
IS the outcome OF determined EFFORT by residents
OF the Salt River Valley. in Southern Central Ari-
zona OF which PhGnix. the Territorial capital. IS
the principal town. to oust sheep and cattle men
from the region OF the headwaers or the Verde ana
Salt rivers, which supply an extensive system or
irrigation IN the great valley The Government
owned the alternate sections. and could not pre-
vent the owners OF stock and OF timber crossing
them 10 gain to their own holdings or leased
lands.
The forest is one OF the finest bodies Of pine
timber in the entire country. and its shady aisles
long afforded superior grazing facilities. Hundreds
OF thousands OF sheep have been kept there. and
the industry has been growing. The irrigatonists
complained 10 the Commissioner OF the General
Land Office that a result of the presence OF
cattle and sheep in the reserve and contiguous for
ests the underbrush destroyed and the earth
packed hard that after rain the water would
pass off IN floods instead OF being retarded suf-
iciently to prevent abnormal rise in the lower
streams. Before the advent OF cattle and sheep IN
the reserve rains the watershed did incalculabe
good to the valley as the underground prevented
floods all the could be utilized for irri-
cation purposes.
The struggle between the stock men and lumber
the hand and the Salt River people on
the other has continued for the last four five
years. The Interior Department was handicapped
by reason of the checkerboard nature OF the
serve and the failure of the owners OF the remain
ing alternate sections to reach agreement. For
more than month officers OF the Santa Fe Rail-
road and others interested in the preservation OF
the forests have been negotiating and Saturday
they entered into an agreement between themselves
TO accept Government land elsewhere. contingent
Government and the formation of forest reserve.
This has now been agreed to by the Secretary OF
the Interior The effect of this agreement will be
to add l950720 acres to AriZona'S forest reserve,
giving II a total of nearly six million acres con-
tained In the Prescott. the Black Mesa, the Grand
Canyon and the San Francisco reserves. These fg-
surpas 5ed in the West only by those re
State having total reserve of nearly nine million
acres. and Washington possessing 1900 coo
1t IS the policy OF the Government TO erect forest
wherever possible and II is In accordance
with this policy that a bill has been introduced in
the House authorizing the Secretary OF Agriculture
to purchase two million acres in the Appalachian
lima South Carolina Georgia, Alabama and Ten
nessee at total expense OF 5000 O00 the term OF
the expenditure to continue until the expiration OF
the fiscal year 1901