Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-09-13
FOREST RESERVES.

The extreme drouth that has affected
our state for several seasons past, has
awakened desire In many Of her peo-
pie to discover some means by which
TO successfully solve the question OF a
sufficient supply OF water for irrigation
and domestic purposes. Some have con-
cluded that II all kinds Of animals were
excluded from grazing on the mountain
ranges the water would be ample Tor
all purposes.
If this rule were established II would
compel the keeping Of all domestic ami
mails upon the farm during the summer
months, there being practically no sum-
mer range In the state excepting upon
the mountains. | will venture that
there is not In Utah more than one In
every 30 OF our farmers who can keep
more than 20 head Of cattle upon his
farm. Others can keep no more than
one or two milch cows. Reduce this
livestock industry of the state upon
which the farmer largely depends, TO
these limits and you Will pauperize
very many Of Utahs people.
No farmer In the state excepting mar
ket gardeners. If confined strictly to
what he can produce from the soil Of
a small farm with plenty OF water at
his disposal. can In these times of high
prices support and educate small
family respectfully Think OF a man
with a family OF five persons support
ing them from the products of 20 acres
Of land land this Is called farm IN
Utah, with an average yield OF ~
bushels OF wheat per acre, OF the Vajue
Of 40 or 50 cents per bushel, or other
products proportlonate TO this in value,
and you will find problem difficult TO
solve. II cannot be done. He must
have few head OF cattle or sheep upon
the range or draw from some other
source. Yet there are those who are
clamorlng TO have the livestock indus
try relegated to the past, saying GIVE
to us who live In the towns and cities
the control Of the watersheds that we
may prevent the grazing OF stock upon
them thinking this would give an
abundance Of water Water must first
come from above or no matter what
conditions prevail on the watersheds
there will not be sufficient moisture
The government being asked by the
would be representatives OF the people
has withdrawn from entry about B0Uo,'
900 OF acres of land in Utah with view
OF setting of forest reserves.
No one but those living adjacent &c
them knows what calamity to the
people the forest reserves are.
In order TO procure load of wood from
reserve where thousands of cords are
rottlng one must first obtain n permit
from the supervisor defining the local
ity where he wants TO get the wood If
like the God OF Baal the supervisor
happens TO be on visit or has gone a
Journey YOU must wait his return. hsy'
ing the permit you pile the wood and
tops and apply to the supervisor or
some one of his subordlnantes, who
measures the wood. You may then re-
move Il and not become trespasser
A farmer desiring TO procure a load
OF poles, a set OF stable logs or a little
lumber, must go through the same rou-
tine, but In the latter case he must
find the timber where II Is not con-
trolled by a sweeping permit. | say
sweeping, because under the present
system OF granting permits adopted by
the department OF the interior nearly
all OF the timber nearest the settle
ments, including the terminus OF the
wagon roads made by the people, Is
being monopolized and made merchan-
disc, and helms removed more rapidly
than at any time In the past.
Native lumber because OF these mon
opoles has advanced In price " per
thousand feet. The government re-
quires all Of the lops and tops to be
piled ready FOR burning and rumor says
all the refuse down timber Is to be
burned Thus all Of the distractions to
the free and easy flow OF the water In
the reserves are TO be removed so that
the water produced by rainfall and the
melting OF sEcw may find It's way rap
lilly to the valleys before they are
needed for irrigation.
Would II not be more wise for us TO
look to some other source for relief
from drouth. than TO the establishment
Of timber reserves, that are a menace
to our prosperity and must be kept AZ
an enormous eS pense? Why not utilize
the natural reservoirs In the noun
tains? (The lakes situated AT the
source OF our larger streams) Many Of
them can he drained to the bottom
where pipes and gates would be placed
In position TO draw of or to retain the
water as desired.
At the natural outlets levles could
be constructed to increase the water
In the lakes. Spills could also be ar
ranged To convey the water from them
upon adjoining bench lands there TO
form glaciers that would melt slowly
and add TO the volume Of water during
the irrieatlng season. There would be
no danger Of breakage or foods. neither
would they M with debris but would
prove an effectual relief In times Of
drouth and would add much to the
wealth Of the state and would have
cooling effect upon many who cherish
litigation. OBSERVER.