Arizona republican., 1901-01-25

ulatsd. Brsides the loss occasioned in this way 1t has cost the French people tens of millions of dollars to repair the damage begun by the sheep and the pas; is not yet finished. The loss to the nation Is enormously grcater than any gain from the mountain pas lures could have been, and even the sheep owners themselves, for whose prof, the damage was donn were los CTS In the end, for their industry in that region was utterly destroyed
 "It had been the general impression when the San Francisco mountain for est rrssrve was made that being now in the control of the federal govern ment our forests were comparatively safe. We rested in that assurance un- til about a year ago, when we found that peculiar form of that reserve made it impossible for either the gov ernment to afford protection to the timber or the owners of the adjacent sections. It was in the form of a checker board, alternate sections. The odd numbered sections being the old Atlantic & Pacific land grant. and be- longing to the successors of thar com pany and Its grantees. The govern ment was unwilling to purchase for this purpose the odd sections.
 "It became manifest 10 all concerned that this reserve could not in this form fulfll its purpose. and in order 70 make the reserve effective it was nec- essary that 1t be solidifed,
 Tt became evident to the people of
 his valley that something must be done for our protection. Our rainfall had not only deer ascd, but by reason of the removal of forest cover a change In the runoff had taken place. which If continued would destroy the value of the water supply and necessita.e 9 the construction of costly reservoirs. The accumulated growth formerly served as a natural reservoir. that ba- ing removed We had then alternate foods and scarchy of water.
 AS a means or protecting our large rested interests here, the Salt River Valley Water Supply and Pro- tective association was formed and Mir. James Bark was sent to Washington to lay the matter of our interests before the department of the interior. His mission was well performed, and ably and fully. did he present our case to the secretary. and the foundation for ultimate success was laid. He satisfied tn partm2nt of justice of our claims. but Secretary Hitchcock stated that he was power l, less to grant the relief for the reason that the odd numbered sections of this reserve was in private ownership, that the government could not un'er- take to purchase this land for this pur- pose. but assented to the justice ot ou. i claims. stating that ehe governm+r: would be glad to recover title to th s, | odd numbered sections fer this pur- ! pose. provided an exchange for othe! | lands that would be equitable to the government could tp made; but that the owners of these lands were unwil- ling to exchange them for others of 1 like character.
 ! Ut became evident that the only so- luton of thu question was to secure the consent of these individual owners tG a fair exchange of lands. but 1t was found that some of them were opposed to an exchange on any reasonabie basis.
 'They stated that they had already made plans for the use of their lands One of the mill companies wand its [ timber for lumber; had a large plan. already established on the ground and | could not afford to surrender iis lulo. Der supply, thereby destroying lhe | business of It's plant.
 After months of labor the consent of these owners was finally secured tt make an exchange of their lands on {; basis which the department considered | fair, the owners taking open aesyrI ! lands in lieu of the lands they had de nuded of timber. It appears that thf people, of Coconino county feel mucf ! aggrleved at the ac.ion of the depart ment in doing the one thing alonc tha' can save to that county its forests an6
 make them forever a source of profit i for 1t Is q we'll known fact tha. tht | matured timber in a forest r. serve
 can be removed under suitable re-
 strictions without damaging th2 for. ests, and upon this the mills now there
 will tpend for their future supply o
 materials. We are informed that 6 ! mass meeting has been held at Flag
 star called by the supervisors of Coco
 nino county. and that a delegation ha!
 been sent to Washington 10 preseE
 their case to the president If tn
 matter were to be taken up in the de
 partment simply i; would not be nee
 essary for us here to take notice O.
 this action, but the president has no
 been informed ofLthe conditions here
 an an ex parte statement to hin
 might prejudice him against our case