Arizona republican., 1901-01-26
GREAT FOREST RESERVE
Governments Attempt to Harmonize
 Conflicting Interests.

The San Frahcisco mountain re- serve which has attracted so much at tentlon in the last few weeks because of partial agrstment between the government and owners of odd sections, for Its consolidation. contains the most magnificent virgin pine forests in the world. The government has issued reg ulations from time to time affecting this great reserve, but none which has aroused so much activity among Inter- ests that are apparently conflicting. as a notice that the reserve may be solidificd.
 It has had special agents examining the forests and grazing lands from time to time during the last two years with view of determining the effect of grazing on the water supply and I'm pounding tendencies of the forest, and the relative damage of overgrazing by sheep and cattle. Because of disputes between cattle and sheep men feuds have arisen in Arizona, but the Interior department now hopes 10 adopt regu- lations which will harmonZe the once conflicting stock interests.
 In the great pine forests of northern Arizona the timber is usually found at an attitude of from $500 to 7.500 feet. It is estimated that the total quantity of pine timber adapted to saving in this territory amounts to 10000. .000, O0O feet. which will supply the needs of any state In the Union for a century In view of the approaching spolation of the once great forests surrounding the great lakes and the partial defor- estaelon of thr timber lands surround ing Puget sound. the big lumber men ol the country have been directing their attention to Arizona. Their operations have already assumed important pro- portions and new organizations are planning to go Into the lumber busi. ness In Arizona on even a more exten. sive scale than at present. Ratlona measures by the government only wil prevent their operations from becoming so extensive as to cause the def0resta tion Of the great timber bebts In com ! paratively few years, but the variou. l departments have experienced so mucl difficulty In rcforcsting several dis | tricts of the west where trees hay, been ruthlessly felled by the thou sands that it Is said they are earl, planning to avoid a repetition of th destruction in Arizona.
 Clifford Pinchot, a special agent wh. visited Arizona recently. will nak recommendations for the extension O forest reserves In Arizona affurdlaj more protection not only to the trees but to the water supply, which is tn all-important factor in the grazing an, farming industries. The vested farm ing and stock interests Tn central an southern Arizona dependent upon tn water supply from the mountainou regions covered by forests amount t many million dollars. and representa- tives of these interests in Washingto have been clamoring during the las two sessions of congrrss for just sue an agreement as has been arrange through Secretary Hitchcock after con suitations with Land Commissions
 Btngrr Hermann.
 The principal lumber mills of thl
 territory are located at Flagstaff an
 Williams. in Coconino county, on tn
 line of the Santa Fe Pacific railroa,
 and the equipments are modern. Th
 Arizona Lumber and Timber compan